Human trafficking thrives in times of crisis and uncertainty, when the needs of the most vulnerable among us are often overlooked. Congress recently passed the $2 trillion coronavirus relief legislation, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), H.R. 748. Lawmakers are already at work on a fourth major legislative package (“Phase Four”) to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. The CARES Act provided significant new resources for education, early care, housing, nutrition, and services; however, it fell short in some significant ways. Due to underlying vulnerabilities, those most at risk of, and victim to, human trafficking and labor exploitation will experience disproportionate impacts as a result of COVID-19 in the short, medium, and long-term. As a result, the current funds allocated for human trafficking services and prevention are insufficient to protect the marginalized from sexual abuse and severe labor exploitation. Low-wage workers, including documented and undocumented immigrants; runaway and homeless youth; those fleeing domestic violence. and sexual assault; and previously identified victims of human trafficking who need ongoing support and access to additional resources are being left behind. Notably, the legislation to date has failed to provide support to immigrant workers, including undocumented workers, many of whom are providing essential services but are at greater risk for forced labor and other forms of human trafficking during this pandemic.

post

page

attachment

revision

nav_menu_item

custom_css

customize_changeset

oembed_cache

user_request

wp_block

acf-field-group

acf-field

ai1ec_event

National strategy for combating terrorist and other illicit financing
Guidance

Combating the pernicious impact of illicit finance upon our financial system, economy, and society is integral to strengthening U.S. national security and prosperity. While there has been substantial progress in the United States and globally in add...Read More

Shady business: Uncovering the business model of labour exploitation
Guidance

Edited by Anniina Jokinen and Natalia Ollus. Labour exploitation and trafficking can be seen as direct consequences of global inequality. Poverty, a lack of social or economic opportunities, disparities in income and the standard of living, oppr...Read More

A common anti-trafficking plan to address the risks of trafficking in human beings and support potential victims among those fleeing the war in Ukraine
Guidance

As of 6 May 2022, over 5.4 million people have arrived in the European Union since the beginning of the war in Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The vast majority of the persons fleeing Ukraine are women and children. Over 13,000 unaccompanied and separa...Read More

Migrant workers’ access to justice for wage theft: A global study of promising initiatives
Guidance

Systemic wage theft has long been part of the labour migration landscape in every region of the world. During COVID-19, egregious underpayment of migrant workers was even more widespread as businesses encountered financial pressures and vast numbers...Read More