Forum targets 'crisis of silence'

When psychiatrist Linnea Smith and others began organizing a conference on sex trafficking two years ago, they decided to put the words "Breaking the Crisis of Silence" in the title because few people realized such human exploitation was happening in North Carolina.

"There's denial or victim blaming and denial," Smith said. "This is something that happens in third-world developing impoverished countries, but it doesn't happen in Raleigh."

But the two years of conference planning and arrests involving alleged sex trafficking have already increased attention to the subject, she said.

In October, three Raleigh residents faced federal charges after law enforcement officials said they brought women from New York, New Jersey and Maryland into the state, and recruited North Carolinians as young as 14, to work at three brothels.

What has come out of the collaboration with UNC-Chapel Hill, the Carolina Women's Center and other agencies is a two-day international conference starting Friday at the Radisson Hotel in Research Triangle Park.

The conference will focus on international efforts to stop human trafficking, federal services provided to trafficking victims, the demand for sex tourism and other sexual exploitation, and identifying trafficking victims.

Statistics vary on how many people are brought by threat or force into the United States every year and exploited for labor or sex.

The U.S. Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report for 2005 estimates that 14,500 to 17,500 are brought in annually. An estimated 80 percent of trafficking victims are women and children, mostly brought for sexual exploitation.

Part of the conference will explore how North Carolina could help law enforcement agencies recognize sex trafficking situations and help victims receive services instead of being deported.

Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, who plans to attend, is interested in model legislation two UNC School of Law students are putting together as part of a Human Rights and Policy Clinic in their last year.

"If there's a state law, it's more likely that state and local officials will be familiar with the topic," said Hannah Little, one of the law students.

The state also could fill in the gap for victims who don't meet the strict federal standard to be considered a victim of trafficking, she added. The federal government enacted a Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act in 2000. It gives victims the opportunity to receive visas to stay in the country and receive aid.

"In particular, we're looking at how to make sure victims are provided services, and how to make sure that they have the best possible chance of being properly assessed for the trafficking visa that they may be eligible for," said Deborah Weissman, professor of law and director of clinical programs.

"We're actually right now trying to put together what would be a model team to see if we can put together one case," she said.

IF YOU GO

The conference will take place 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The fee, which includes meals, is $60 for non-students and $25 for college students. Scholarships are available for students.

More information can be found at http://womenscenter.unc.edu/trafficking/ or by calling 962-2643 or (800) 845-8640.