Seton Hall | Law - Representing Victims of Human Trafficking

Representing Victims of Human Trafficking

About the Program

According to the Defense Institute of International Studies, "Human trafficking is the third largest criminal activity in the world, behind illegal arms and drug sales.  It is a leading source of profits for organized crime, generating between $7 billion and $10 billion annually according to U.N. estimates."  In 2010, the U.S. was included in the Annual U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report for the first time and was described as a "…source, transit, and destination country for men, women and children subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically for forced labor, debt bondage, and forced prostitution…"  The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) and its reauthorizations in '03, '05 and '08 were devised to address the problem of human trafficking in America.  Today, the Human Trafficking Reporting System (HTRS) tracks U.S. human trafficking incidents to provide data to the U.S. Department of Justice. 

Human trafficking investigations often require active participation by multiple agencies.  According to the HTRS, 83% of alleged human trafficking incidents in the U.S. involved state or local law enforcement as the lead agency, and 16% involved federal agencies as the lead investigating agency.  New Jersey participates in the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHRTC) which reported 205 calls from New Jersey in 2010.  While this figure is not intended to represent the actual number of trafficked individuals in the state (which is estimated to be much higher), the following news stories also confirm human trafficking exploitation in our neighboring communities:

  • "Authorities Break Up Alleged Human Trafficking Scheme," June 14, 2011, NJTODAY.NET
  • "Human Trafficking in the United States," April 23, 2011, NTTimes.com
  • "2 arrested in Atlantic City human trafficking bust," March 9, 2011, ABClocal.com
  • "NJ Congressman Chris Smith praises West Windsor cops, feds for stopping possible rings of prostitution and human trafficking," October 26, 2010, The Trentonian
  • "West African woman gets 27 years in prison for running human trafficking ring in N.J.," September 21, 2010, The Star-Ledger
  • "Man gets four years in N.J. human trafficking case," June 28, 2010, NJ.com

Seton Hall Law School has a significant history in both immigration law and issues involving human trafficking, as demonstrated by its courses, including a study abroad program in Zanzibar that focuses on human trafficking and modern day slavery and an Immigrants' Rights/International Human Rights Clinic that represents victims of human trafficking in New Jersey.  Join Seton Hall Law faculty and invited guest presenters for a unique CLE program in which speakers discuss strategies involved in preparing a damages case, how to pursue civil litigation for clients who are the victims of human trafficking, and pursuing immigration status.   

This event is free of charge. 2 NJ/NY CLE credits available for attorneys only.

Sponsored by the Center for Social Justice, Seton Hall University School of Law and the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

For more information, please contact Stephanie Savoia-Pearl at 973-642-8293.

EVENT RESCHEDULED
Monday, December 3, 2012

Registration: 5:30 p.m.
Program: 6:15 - 8:15 p.m.

2 NJ/NY CLE Credits

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Center for Social Justice Initiatives

The Center for Social Justice (CSJ) and New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI) released a report, Discharge, Deportation, and Dangerous Journeys: A Study on the Practice of Medical Repatriation, documenting an alarming number of cases in which U.S. hospitals have forcibly repatriated vulnerable undocumented patients, who are ineligible for public insurance as a result of their immigration status, in an effort to cut costs.

READ THE REPORT here >>

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