Airline Ambassadors and Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition are partnering to provide Human Trafficking Awareness training at Mineta San Jose International airport on Thursday, January 23, 2014.   We appreciate support from Congressman Honda.   RSVP for this  complimentary training at angels@airlineamb.org.

See Media Alert Below:

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In 2012, less than 1% of Human Trafficking victims were identified.  AAI has assumed a pivotal role since 2010 when members reported suspected trafficking on 4 different commercial flights in just one day.  One of those cases led to the break up of a trafficking ring in Boston, saving 82 children. Since that time we have provided more than 20 awareness training’s as a public service.

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For more information on the Human Trafficking DVD email angels@airlineamb.org

Recent Press:

 Dec. 24, 2013 CBS Channel 5 Phoenix  Their Job is to Keep you Safe

Dec. 4, 2013 Channel 9 News Washington DC Airlines Raise Awareness to Fight Human Trafficking

Nov. 23, 2013 CNN News Airline Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking

 

MEDIA ALERT                                                                                                                      Date: January 14, 2014

Media contact: Nancy Rivard  angels@airlineamb.org   (650) 489-5322

MAJOR BAY AREA AIRPORT RECEIVES TRAINING TO HELP EMPLOYEES RECOGNIZE AND REPORT SUSPECTED HUMAN TRAFFICKING

UPCOMING TRAINING:  Mineta San Jose International Airport Personnel with Congressman Mike Honda Congressman, Santa Clara Board of Supervisors Cindy Chavez, ICE: Homeland Security Investigations

Training Date/Time: Thursday, January 23^rd from 9:30-11:30 a.m.  MEDIA: 9-9:30 a.m.

1701 Airport Boulevard, Suite B-1130 (between Terminals A & B) San Jose

TRAINING HOSTS:  Airline Ambassadors International & Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition
Every year, adults and children are being trafficked through the Bay Area region’s three largest airports.  The United States and the State of California have laws to protect victims and penalize perpetrators of human trafficking, which is commonly defined as people profiting from the exploitation of others, controlling them by force, fraud, or coercion.

Since minors currently are not required to carry identification in order to travel by airplanes entering and exiting U.S. airports, traffickers have been trying to use this to their advantage.  Cases have been documented in which traffickers have misrepresented themselves as sports coaches, employers and family members of trafficked victims.  Airport personnel at ticket counters, gates and other areas of airport operations are in a unique position to be able to identify potential victims and report potential incidents to law enforcement agencies in order to rescue victims and bring traffickers to justice.

Airline Ambassadors International (AAI) is partnering with the Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition (BAATC) to conduct a 90-minute training with Mineta San Jose Airport personnel on Thursday, January 23^rd.  During this training, airport employees will learn the warning signs to look and listen for to identify victims and perpetrators of human trafficking.

San Francisco International Airport held a similar training in March 2012 with the support of Congresswoman Jackie Speier. AAI and BAATC also plan to launch a training at Oakland International Airport in 2014.
ALL AIR TRANSPORTATION PERSONNEL ARE INVITED TO ATTEND. MEDIA ARE WELCOME FROM 9-9:30 A.M.
RSVP: angels@airlineamb.org

QUOTES FROM PARTICIPATING OFFICIALS AND EVENT HOSTS 

“Human trafficking is an atrocity that is not some far away occurrence. It happens here on our shores, and our airline, airport and hotel personnel can be the first line of defense in combating trafficking. That is why I am proud that the Silicon Valley community has taken responsibility and pulled together this multifaceted, holistic approach to eliminating the scourge of human trafficking.”

Congressman Mike Honda, 17^th Congressional District

“Increased awareness and education at San Jose Airport cuts off this entry/exit point for traffickers. The U.S. State Dept. has determined that transportation professionals are among the best-placed to identify trafficking situations.”
Nancy Rivard, President, Airline Ambassadors

“Airport personnel are our first line of defense. With an increase in human trafficking through the Bay Area and other U.S. airports, we are being proactive.  The threat of human trafficking tends to be heightened around major sports and entertainment events.  With the Super Bowl coming to Santa Clara in 2016, we want to act now to offset that threat.
Betty Ann Boeving, Exec. Director, BAATC

 Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition (www.baatc.org) works on the front lines to train Bay Area citizens and civic groups in awareness and sustainable engagement to fight local trafficking in the region. BAATC has hosted the largest community-based anti-trafficking training in the United States to date (www.freedom-summit.org).

Airline Ambassadors International (www.airlineamb.org) provides humanitarian aid to children and families in need as well as relief and development to under-privileged communities worldwide. We escort children in need, hand-deliver humanitarian aid to orphanages, clinics, and remote communities, raise public awareness and involve youth in humanitarian efforts