CBA Record
Y O U N G L A W Y E R S J O U R N A L
Two types of human trafficking are labor trafficking and sex trafficking. Both types are considered forms of modern slavery, as the person being trafficked is not allowed to willingly leave the ‘trafficker’ (i.e. the person exploiting the vulnerable individual). The trafficker physically or psychologically coerces an individual to do something against their will. The constant manipulation used on these vulnerable individuals and the repeated abuse of the individuals is devastating. In labor trafficking, the trafficker often gives a false promise of a high-paying job, education, travel or something else appeal- ing to a vulnerable individual. Once the individual accepts the job offer, they are placed into awful working conditions, work long hours, and are either not compensated or barely compensated. Surprisingly, this type of trafficking currently exists within the U.S. likely due to a worker’s immigration status, existing debt, their poverty level, or a lack of labor protections. Between 2007 and 2015, the National HumanTrafficking Resource Center reported more than 4,000 labor trafficking cases inside the United States. Globally, the International Labor Organization estimates 14.2 million people are trapped in forced labor, specifically within agriculture, construction, domestic work, and manufacturing.The U.S. Depart- ment of Labor identified 136 goods from 74 countries made by force and child labor. This is only what has been detected thus far. “Sex trafficking of minors” is included in the broader definition of sex trafficking, as contained in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000: “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act…in which a commer- cial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age” (22 USC § 7102; 8 CFR § 214.11(a)). When a trafficked person is a minor (i.e. under the age of 18), 18 U.S.C. § 1591 mandates that the minor is a victim of sex trafficking regardless of whether or not the trafficker used force, threats of
CBA YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION Chair Kathryn Carso Liss The Law Offices of Jean Conde PC First Vice-Chair Jonathan B. Amarilio Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Second Vice-Chair Brandon E. Peck Peck Ritchey LLC
Human Trafficking Awareness Month By Kathryn Carso Liss YLS Chair J anuary is Human Trafficking Aware- ness Month. As our YLS theme this year is Protecting Our Children, the CBA has designated the last week of this month to raise awareness toward this topic, specifically as it pertains to children. The sex trade industry is believed to exist in almost every major U.S. city and affects every demographic. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center reported 122 human trafficking cases in 2015 in Illinois alone. There were likely many more cases which were not reported in 2015. People may think that human trafficking does not affect their community. However, it very well may, and until a community can iden- tify, intervene with, and support people who are susceptible to trafficking, trafficking will unfortunately continue to the detriment of hundreds and thousands of people. The reason why is money. Human trafficking is a hugely profitable business. The International Labor Organization estimates that human trafficking globally is a $150 billion industry. According to a 2014 report by Urban Institute, pimps and traffickers in the underground commercial sex trade in eight major U.S. cities received between $5,000-$32,833 per week.
Member Service Manager Shawna S. Boothe Schiff Hardin LLP Public Service Manager Alexander M. Memmen The Memmen Law Firm, LLC
Project Officer Octavio Duran Hart & David, LLP
Project Officer Paraisia Winston Gray Secretary/Treasurer Carl M. Newman City of Chicago Department of Law
YLS Journal Co-Editors in Chief Oliver A. Khan American Association of Insurance Services
Nicholas D. Standiford Schain, Banks, Kenny & Schwartz, Ltd.
Assistant Editor Elizabeth Babbitt Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
YLS Director Jennifer Byrne
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