WIFLE Sponsors Human Trafficking Seminar at Canadian Embassy

WIFLE coordinated with the National Center for Women and Policing, the Canada Border Services Agency, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to host a human trafficking seminar at the Canadian Embassy on May 1, 2008.  The seminar brought together international, federal, state, and local police with non-governmental agencies who provide services to trafficked victims.  Over 100 attendees and speakers discussed issues such as internet-facilitated child sexual exploitation, victims issues, and the challenges facing investigating the trafficking of persons in the Americas. 

This is the fourth annual human trafficking event co-sponsored by WIFLE.   WIFLE is able to leverage its location and position in the Washington, DC metropolitan area to gather together human trafficking expertise and resources, as well as coordinate with a major embassy, to highlight global and U.S. perspectives to addressing human trafficking. 

The feedback from the seminar was noteworthy.   It is always gratifying to hear comments such as those from a police officer who stated she now has the ability not only to recognize the indicators of a trafficked victim, but to know what services are available in the DC area to assist trafficked victims.   WIFLE will continue to focus on issues of violence against women and understands how important it is that law enforcement raise the level of awareness on the issue of human trafficking.