Human Trafficking Organizations in a Mid-Atlantic Region: An Environmental Scan

• In Event: Responses to Human Trafficking in the United States

Abstract

Human Trafficking is an invisible challenge to human rights across the globe. Much of our current research reflects these challenges but also reveals many of the inadequacies found in existing trafficking discourse and policy programs. As global efforts against human trafficking have expanded the conversation, local initiatives have put in place various organizations, which focus on the global struggle and lose sight of the regional problems that may foster human trafficking. Often the local organizations operate within the sphere of all forms of violence against women and issues of migration and given the current national shift in attitudes towards these groups, risk decreased funding and social support. This study is a compilation and evaluation of regional resources using an environmental scan to detect trends and events geared towards human trafficking awareness, prevention, and victim services. The findings can assist both social service organizations and law enforcement in efforts to form collaborative task forces and identify best practices related to this topic on which much information remains uncertain.

Authors

• Jessica Regan Swanson, Indiana University

• Stepanka Korytova Magstadt, Center for the Study of Human Trafficking in South Central Pennsylvania