The Reality of Human Trafficking

One of the fastest and largest growing crimes in the U.S. is human trafficking. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, "Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use violence, manipulation, or false promises of well-paying jobs or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations.” This crime is happening in communities across the nation. Communities need to take a stand and educate themselves on human trafficking and learn how all of our efforts can make a difference. There are many resources out there that have information to help fight against this growing crime.

The US Institute Against Human Trafficking (USIAHT) is a leader in the global fight to eradicate human sex trafficking and intends to eliminate human sex trafficking in the United States through prevention, combating demand, the rescue of victims, and providing safe refuge for the restoration of survivors.

A Community-Wide Strategy to Fight Against Human Sex Trafficking

USIAHT’s flagship demand reduction program,TraffickingFreeZoneTM, is a community-based initiative to reduce the number of buyers, whose continuous financial investments create an illicit market for traffickers to exploit young victims. TheTraffickingFree Zone program is implemented in collaboration with community members and leaders, law enforcement, businesses, schools, health care organizations, churches and the media, all while using technology to reach buyers and victims on a massive scale. The program helps communities come together to arrest and prosecute sex buyers instead of the victims who are being sold, educates people on sex trafficking, and uses technology and research to reduce demand.

Community-by-community the TFZ program is implemented with the focus on arresting and prosecuting sex buyers instead of the victims who are being sold, educating people on sex trafficking, connecting the community with victim and buyer services, as well as implementing numerous other demand reduction techniques. Using the principles outlined in the TFZ program, communities can expect to see a significant decline in demand.

To create a "Traffic Free Zone" there are three steps: #1 is to get educated by doing a training offered on the USIAH website. #2 is to get enraged by issuing a proclamation declaring your business, or institution a "Traffic Free Zone." #3 is to get engaged and this is being done by our annual "Anti-Human Trafficking Symposium."

The Gender Resource Center launched a training program on campus through: https://usiaht.org/training/. This training is free and can be completed easily by anyone interested in expanding their knowledge on human trafficking. Once the training is completed a certificate is provided.
In January 2020, President Satterlee signed a proclamation declaring Idaho State University a "Traffic Free Zone."
On January 24, 2023 join us in attending the 4th "Anti-Human Trafficking Symposium."

Anti-Human Trafficking Symposium

Join us on January 23th, in the Wood and Little Wood River Rooms, located in the Pond Student Union, from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., for the “Anti-Human Trafficking Symposium.” This event is free and open to everyone including: service providers, and community members. Parking will be free in Lot #1, next to the Pond Student Union. Pick up your pass at the Public Safety/ Parking Office on the corner of Humboldt and 5^th Street. Lunch will be provided for the first 100 people to register. https://forms.gle/g9XPCvqr22faAcjdA

Human trafficking spans across the United States and occurs in every state, including Idaho. There is a network of people that target individuals and can reach victims through a variety of means. The industry is growing in profitability, making human trafficking appealing to many and increasing the number of young people falling victim to traffickers. The symposium will present information on human trafficking in Idaho, by local experts.

The Anti-Human Trafficking Symposium will begin with Jennifer Zielinski, Executive Director of the Idaho Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition. Jennifer will talk about her position and how the coalition has changed over the years. .w …Idaho COBS President Tylar Bell and Vice President ill be presenting on will be providing info on the growing presence of human trafficking in all industries and communities alike and how to identify and report it…they will be providing information on resources available in Idaho for victims and survivors of human trafficking as well as how individuals can get involved in the fight of human trafficking The symposium will end with a PBS Frontline documentary, “Sex Trafficking in America.” presentation with action steps for citizens to support an end to human trafficking in our area.

This event is being hosted by the Office of Equity & Inclusion and the Gender Resource Center.

Anti Human Trafficking Symposium

Pocatello, ID, January 16, 2024– Join us on January 23th, in the Wood and Little Wood River Rooms, located in the Pond Student Union, from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M., for the “Anti-Human Trafficking Symposium.” This event is free and open to everyone including: service providers, and community members. Parking will be free in Lot #1, next to the Pond Student Union. Pick up your pass at the Public Safety/ Parking Office on the corner of Humboldt and 5^th Street. Lunch will be provided for the first 100 people to register. https://forms.gle/g9XPCvqr22faAcjdA

This event is being hosted by the Office of Equity & Inclusion and the Gender Resource Center.

# # #

If you would like more information about this symposium, please contact Stephanie Richardson at 208-282-3590 or email at richstep@isu.edu .

Symposium Schedule 2024

Registration Link:

https://forms.gle/g9XPCvqr22faAcjdA