Letty Ashworth, the General Manager for Global Diversity at Delta Air Lines, accepted the Blue Heart Award from Airline Ambassadors at the Global Officials of Dignity Awards at the United Nations on June 20, 2014. She works to ensure that Delta continues to set an example for the transportation industry with its efforts to combat human trafficking.
She testified testified along side Airline Ambassadors at the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations in January, and shared that Delta’s 80,000 employees worldwide – received training and are in prime positions to be eyes and ears to spot potential cases of human trafficking and point them out to law enforcement for action.” Delta, a founding member of the Global Business Coalition Against Human Trafficking, was the first US airline to sign the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children for Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism.
She joined Cindy McCain and Ambassador Lagon in March for at the Human Rights First Summit in March 2014 See Link HERE We look forward to working with them and the thousands of other women (and men) who have devoted their lives to putting an end to modern slavery.
Congressman Chris Smith, author of the National Victims Protection Act, sent these words of congratulations:
“I would like to offer my congratulations and appreciation to Delta Airlines and Silver Airways for the corporate responsibility they have taken and the leadership shown in their response to human trafficking. No airline is immune from abuse by traffickers—but, to date, only a few airlines have decided that they will actively seek to detect victims on their flights. Only a few airlines have decided that they will be part of trafficking relief and protection. Thank you, Delta and Silver Airways, for your efforts to set a new airline industry standard of identification and reporting of potential victims. Nancy and other observant members of flight crews have saved scores of people from disaster and likely death just by being observant and knowing who to call. And I have no doubt that, as a result of Delta’s and Silver Airway’s new policies, more lives will be saved.” Congressman Chris Smith
Leila Lopes, Miss Universe 2 011 will present at the Global Officials of Dignity Awards in New York on June 20 at the United Nations Headquarters. Please join us for a memorable evening honoring humanitarians from around the world. Airline Ambassadors has been pleased to support Leila’s humanitarian work in Ghana and around the world. Click HERE for more
Rebecca Holden and Tony LeBron will perform their new musical duet Dreams Come True at the Global Officials of Dignity Awards at the United Nations in New York on June 20, 2014
People across the globe, now over 9 Mi
llion strong on YouTube, have discovered “Dreams Come True” as their personal source of Love, Hope, & Inspiration. This brand new recording is performed by Rebecca Holden & Tony LeBron and produced by the multi-Grammy winning team of Rudy Perez & Joel Diamond. “Dreams Come True” is the lead song and centerpiece from a soon to be released album that will uplift your soul and touch your heart. There have beenthousands of YouTube videos posted from all over the world by people who have used Dreams Come True as the theme song.
Click to watch their inspiring Video Here
Rebecca Holden and Joel Diamond will be event hosts for the G.O.D. Awards with Leila Lopes, Miss Universe, 2011.
Thanks for support from Southwest Airlines!
Now you can sell your home and help children through our new funding partner – the Referral Project! CLICK HERE to learn more and THANK YOU for your support!
Check out the articles in May 7, 2014 in Travel Weekly:
Click these links:
Travel industry training, vigilance garnering results
Resources for learning how to fight human trafficking
Join us to visit the projects of Mayan Families. Nov. 30 – Dec. 6 Here’s a short VIDEO on our mission there last fall to give you a sense of what to expect! Sunday, Nov 30th -Arrival in Guatemala City, transportation to Pana -Welcome Packet – Sack Lunch Welcome Dinner Monday, Dec. 1st -Visit to El Barranco Pre-School where the children will perform traditional folkloric dances. We will then hand out donations we have brought with us. You have the opportunity to sponsor a child at the school, and Connie will let you know which children need sponsors. 
Tuesday, Dec. 2nd 
– Boat ride to San Juan Laguna were you will see demonstrations of natural dye making and back-strap weaving at the women’s co-ops. There will be lots of beautiful textiles to purchase. The afternoon will be free time. You will have the option to have dinner together at Penguinos where the owner, Miguel will entertain you with stories of his culture and with marimba music. (and you will have a chance to try your skill at making tortillas!) –
Wednesday, Dec. 3rd
– Return to El Barranco to do home visits and install 2 stoves. Those who sponsor a student will have the opportunity to visit their child’s home and meet their family. . Thursday, Dec. 4th -Free day where you can visit the Mayan Families wood working trade school, go zip lining, visit the Reserva Nature area, take a cooking class (if we have enough interested) or go to Chichicastenango and shop till you drop! Friday, Dec. 5th -Assist at Mayan Families Offices with whatever projects they have toing on and help with the elderly feeding program. – Farewell Dinner
Saturday, Dec. 6th -Travel to Antigua and enjoy the day and evening in this beautiful colonial village. Sunday, Dec. 7th -Depart for Guatemala City Airport.
For a group of 8-12, cost is $640 per person, which would include the following:
- · Donation to Mayarn Families
- Accommodations in Panajachel for Sunday through Friday night
- · Accommodations in Antigua for Saturday night
- · Transportation from the airport to Pana
- · Transportation from Pana to Antigua
- · Transportation from Antigua to Guatemala City
- · Transportation to and from Mayan Families activities
- · Translators
- Purchase and installations of two stoves
- · Breakfast every morning
- ·Three Dinners
- · One Lunch
The price does not include:
- ·All other meals
- · Alcoholic drinks and snacks
- · Email Mission Coordinator, Connie Turvey at turveycl@gmail.com for more information
- Upcoming missions planned for January, February and March! (see dates below)
Jan. 18-24Feb. 15-21Mar. 15-21
AIRLINE AMBASSADORS Signs Code of Conduct & Launches Train the Trainer program to Recognize Suspected Human Trafficking.
WHAT: Signing of ECPAT Code of Conduct
WHERE: Hogan & Lovells # 800 (go to Reception Desk ) 555 13TH St NW Washington, DC 20005
WHEN: April 28, 2014 5:00 PM
WHO: Airline Ambassadors represented by Nancy Rivard and Board member Christine Warnke joined Carol Smolenski, Executive Director, ECPAT-USA, Linda Smith (former Congresswoman and Founder of Shared Hope, Holly Smith – human trafficking survivor and Julie Fredericks of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants and members of Airline Ambassadors.
Washington, DC (April 28, 2014) – Airline Ambassadors International (AAI) was the first non-governmental organization and latest U.S. company to take a stand against the commercial sexual exploitation of children by signing the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct (The Code).
The Code, an industry driven responsible tourism initiative in collaboration with ECPAT International, funded by UNICEF and supported by The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), specifically focuses on the protection of children from sexual exploitation in the travel and tourism industries. The Code has been signed by more than 1,000 travel industry members worldwide, and has 35 companies and signatories in the United States. Airline Ambassadors is the first NGO to become a signatory.
With support from Congressman Chris Smith, Airline Ambassadors initiated the first Congressional Briefing to airlines on this issue in July 2010. For the last four years AAI has advocated for child protection via industry specific human trafficking awareness training’s which have been given at 24 airports and other locations.
The signing will also kick off a Train the Trainer program for 25 flight attendants who are becoming certified to provide the training in their home communities. The “Train the Trainer” program will take place April 29 and Congressman Meadows showed support by writing a letter of commendation to the flight attendant trainers.
As a subscriber to The Code, AAI will implement policies that condemn child trafficking, and continue to provide training to their members and the public to recognize and report potential trafficking. They will also raise awareness among donors, business partners, and members by including information about the issue and The Code through their website, and by annually reporting on its progress.
According to Carol Smolenski, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA, a nonprofit organization that advocates for policies to protect sexually exploited children, the purpose of The Code is to prevent and mitigate child trafficking, as well as encourage a socially responsible, child-wise tourism industry.
QUOTES FROM OFFICIALS AND EVENT HOSTS
Congressman Chris Smith,
“Worldwide the best estimates are that 600,000 to 800,000 trafficking victims are moved across international borders each year. Millions more victims are moved within national borders. But anti trafficking efforts have only recently turned to equipping transportation employees to identify victims in transit. Flight attendants are the “first line of defense” in the fight against Human Trafficking.” The training is easy, inexpensive, and already saving lives. I have no doubt, as the result of Airline Ambassadors trainings, hundreds, if not thousands more lives will be saved”.
Congressman Mike Honda, 17th Congressional District
“The U.S. State Dept. has determined that transportation professionals are among the best-placed to identify trafficking situations.”
Ambassador Luis CdeBaca, Office to Monitor Trafficking in Persons, Department of State
We’re well equipped to respond to this specific concern (human trafficking) thanks to the partners that have rallied around this issue: partners in the transportation industry like Airline Ambassadors and Delta Airlines, which are not helping just to make fighting trafficking part of the way our air carriers do business
Carol Smolenski, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA
“We are happy to welcome Airline Ambassadors and TravelTalk Media to the growing community of companies that are helping in the fight against the sex trafficking of children,” Airlines are unwittingly be used as venues for this purpose. If they do nothing to raise awareness or to prevent child trafficking, they risk becoming an unintentional conduit for abuse that takes place.”
Nancy Rivard, President, Airline Ambassadors
“Traffickers move their victims frequently to keep them powerless, and often use the speed and convenience of air travel. Airport and airline personnel are a first line of defense. With an increase in human trafficking around the world – we are being proactive in training personnel to recognize and report trafficking incidents
.About Airline Ambassadors International (www.airlineamb.org) utilizes airline contacts to provide for orphans and vulnerable children worldwide. Members volunteer as medical escorts for children in need, hand-deliver humanitarian aid to orphanages, clinics, and remote communities, and educate and advocate for child protection and human trafficking awareness around the world.
AAI’s Policy reads” Airline Ambassadors International
Corporate Policy against Child Trafficking
Airline Ambassadors International condemns all forms of commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Airline Ambassadors International supports every child’s right to a safe and secure childhood, and is committed to the principle that everyone has the right to grow up and develop without fear of exploitation or harm. The protection of children from sexual exploitation is a moral imperative, and socially responsible business policies and practices must reflect this principle. Airline Ambassadors International will strictly comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding the prevention of the commercial sexual exploitation of children, including the prevention of the use of its premises for such exploitation.
Policy on Protection of the Rights of Children:
Child Sexual Exploitation AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL condemns all forms of sexual exploitation of children.
AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL supports every child’s right to a safe and secure childhood, and is committed to the principle that everyone has the right to grow up and develop without fear of exploitation or harm. The protection of children from sexual exploitation is a moral imperative, and socially responsible policies and practices must reflect this principle.
AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL will strictly comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding the prevention of the commercial sexual exploitation of children and will cooperate with law enforcement authorities to address any such instances of exploitation of which AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL or its employees have become a party to.
No employee or member may:
• Use or allow the use of any of AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL’s facilities, resources or equipment (including AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL’s computers and networks) for the viewing, storage, distribution, promotion or other use of materials in which children are depicted as engaging in any sexual act or are otherwise made an object for prurient interests;
• Enter into, on behalf of AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL, or otherwise, any business relationships or any other arrangement with any organization which the employee has reason to believe participates in any way in the sexual exploitation of children; or
• Use or allow the use of images or concepts that sexually exploit children.
All employees must be vigilant and immediately report to THE DIRECTOR, as appropriate, all situations that come to their attention in AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL’s premises or businesses where exploitation of children is suspected or appears to be intended.
Under no circumstances may AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL’s funds, property (including electronic devices and the AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL’s supported technology) or personnel be used to further or support activities that exploit children.
Child Labor Exploitation
AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL does not recruit child labor, and supports the elimination of exploitative child labor.
AIRLINE AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL will cooperate with law enforcement authorities to address any such instances of exploitation of which Airline Ambassadors International becomes aware.
Definitions:
Human Trafficking: The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of exploitation.*
Labor Trafficking: The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.*
Sex Trafficking: The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion [or by a person who has not attained 18 years of age] for the purpose of a commercial sex act.*
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: Sexual abuse where remuneration in cash or kind is made to the child or a third person(s). This includes through prostitution, pornography, sex tourism, and other forms of human trafficking.
*As defined by Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
Holly Corbett, is part of a trio of female travelers, book co-authors, and TravelChannel.com personalities known as The Lost Girls, spearheaded an Airline Ambassador team in a 1 Mile Fun Run in her hometown of Hoboken NJ planned for Sat. September 27, 2014. What set this team apart is that they wore recycled bridesmaid, prom, or cocktail dresses (yes, even the guys!) and collecting pledges to raise money to provide an airport training for Newark, New Jersey in Human Trafficking Awareness. The premier Runaway Bridesmaids race took place in 2012 as part of New York City’s famous Fifth Avenue Mile, raising nearly $11,000 to help fight sex trafficking. Check this VIDEO of Holly Amanda & Jess!
TravelChannel.com Blog
Hudson News Feature
RunawayBridesmaids-InfoFlyer
Special thanks to Sherry Peters, Jan Reiss and Marcie Guice-Smith as well as Brett Hensley and Mike Ciraldo!
The Cause: Raising awareness and funds to help fight sex trafficking. 
Check out this quote from Abena Appiah, Ms Universe Ghana 2014:
“Human trafficking disproportionately affects impoverished girls and young women and needs to stop. Due to lack of awareness, education and resources these women are easily lured by dealers with the promise of a better life. These girls and young women are future leaders of their respective communities, yet they are captured for the purposes of forced labour, forced begging and sexual exploitation. Human trafficking is the fastest growing international crime affecting multiple industries worldwide. Everyone needs to be involved to bring awareness to this gross violation of human rights. That is why I support and promote this cause.”
AAI member Maarcie Gucci volunteers at Dawns Place, a Safe Houes in NE Philiadelphiais and now we are planning a Holiday Party to help the survivors there! Here is Holly’s follow up letter to the team!
Hi Team Runaway Bridesmaids,
You are all such rock stars. Thank you for coming out and making the second annual Runaway Bridesmaids race (and first-ever in Hoboken!) so much fun–and such a success. And you all looked beautiful doing it (check out these groups shots attached here).
If you have great pictures from the race, can you email them directly to me so I can share with the group? I’m putting together a slideshow that I will share with everyone. And if anyone has suggestions on the best way to do this, please let me know!!
How you made a difference: We have raised more than $7400 so far this year on Crowdrise.com/RunawayBridesmaids (or more than $18,000 in the two years that we’ve done the event!) to support the New Light shelter for the kids of sex workers in one of India’s biggest red light districts to help break the cycle of human trafficking. *pics of New Light kids also attached here
And for everyone who slipped into a dress and laced up their running shoes to help raise awareness about trafficking, proceeds from your race registration fee are sponsoring an anti-trafficking training program for flight attendants to learn how to spot and report child victims of trafficking, since airports are major trafficking hubs (tentative date & place 10/22/14 at Newark airport).
Our team: Our Runaway Bridesmaids team was so much fun because we truly had an amazing mix of people. Ours was a group of travel lovers, flight attendants, hard-core fitness enthusiasts, mommies, babies, runners in training, and all-around passionate individuals. Each one of you should be proud that you did good this weekend and gave back, but here are a few shot outs:
Grand Prize Winner: A big congrats to Ms. Emily Lambert for raising $1000 on Crowdrise. She wins an Airline Ambassadors Mission Trip to visit one of their projects in Guatemala, Colombia or Haiti…her choice, flight included. A HUGE thank you to Airline Ambassadors for generously sponsoring the prize. If you have a case of wanderlust and are interested in joining Emily, check out the trip details: GUATEMALA https://oldsite.airlineamb.org/2014/04/25/guatemala-may-24-may-29/#.U_efEPldV8FCOLOMBIA https://oldsite.airlineamb.org/2014/08/01/yoga-trip-to-colombia/#.U_eflvldV8E HAITI https://oldsite.airlineamb.org/2014/07/06/texting-for-good/#.U_edPvldV8E
*Also a big shout out to Mr. Matt Gennone, another fundraising superstar who collected $1500 for the cause (Like myself, Jen, Amanda, Kevin and Jason, he was not eligible for the grand prize because he is related to us!).
First Place Finisher: Congrats to Mr. Steve Giangiulio, the guy putting the ladies to shame in the super short red plaid dress who won first place in the Runaway Bridesmaids heat with a 6:24 mile.
Best Dressed Guy: Mr. Barry Vargas takes home the award for best dressed with his floor-length, one-shoulder teal gown and matching teal sunglasses. He didn’t let the dress get in the way of pumping some iron when he joined the Hoboken Pump and Run portion.
Really, guys made the biggest fashion statements this weekend: The men in purple (Darren, Mike, Brett, Mark), the men in black (John, Dennis, et al), Mr. Vishal Lokre in the peach Grecian gown, the dudes in the flowered/ printed dresses (Jason I know you didn’t mean to leave your animal-print sheath behind at the bar!) and Kevin Brennan with his short gray dress showing off his runner’s legs all looked absolutely fabulous.
Furthest Traveler: We had runners hailing from DC, Boston, and Syracuse (you rock Kathleen, Darren, and Bethany) come especially for the Runaway Bridesmaids event. The RB runner who traveled the furthest distance to be here for the event is Miss Universe Ghana (aka Abena Appiah) who traveled here from (you guessed it:) Ghana. She supports the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, and really made the event feel all the more special. Thank you Abena!!
Best Interns Ever: We could not have pulled off the event without our awesome interns from Centenary College: Angela (who donned her mom’s teal 70s bridesmaids dress and the crafty woman behind those cool crowns and sashes given to the RB prize winners) and Susan (who was my go-to girl for yelling out the 50-50 raffle winner over the music at the Little Town NJ after party). If anyone is looking to hire some passionate public relations mavens, you should definitely reach out to them!
Number One Photographer: Lisa Bellamy of This Is My View Photography kindly helped us document the big day with the challenging job of reigning us in to take group and action shots, some of which are attached here and others that I will share later. You can check out her work on her Etsy page: etsy.com/shop/myviewphoto
Top Race Directors: Finally, I can’t thank Bennett and Dana Smith enough, the organizers of the Hoboken Pump and Run and owners of Crossfit Hoboken, who made this year’s Runaway Bridesmaids race possible by letting us have our own 1-mile heat in the event.
I could keep going on about the old friends who showed up to support us (Dina, Stephanie M, Brady, Mark, Meg, Court, Sheree, Bindu & Vishal, Mike & Salma, Amanda P you are the best) and the new friends who crossed our path because of Runaway Bridesmaids (so happy to have met you Hillary, Jess, Sherry, Mike, Brett, Polina), but let’s just say the day was awesome and I can’t wait to do it again next year.
We are at 75 percent of our $10K goal, so it would be amazing if you could help us continue to fundraise throughout October: check out our page at Crowdrise.com/RunawayBridesmaids
Cheers again to all of you for an amazing race!!
Holly
Airports An Important New Front Combating Human Trafficking. This TV story highlighted Superbowl preparations in Phoenix- June 19, 2014
Below: CBS – reports from Oakland Training:
April 15, 2014 7:52 PM
Speaking at a news conference at the Oakland International Airport, Betty Ann Boeving of the Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition said airport personnel, airline workers and passengers need to be aware that human traffickers use airports to transport their victims around the world.
Boeving said cases have been documented in which traffickers have misrepresented themselves as sports coaches, employers, and family members of trafficked victims. She said airport personnel at ticket counters, gates and other areas of airport operations are in a unique position to identify potential victims and report potential incidents to law enforcement agencies, in order to rescue victims and bring traffickers to justice.
“Airline employees need to send a message to human traffickers that they’re not welcome to do business in the Bay Area,” Boeving said.The news conference was followed by a training session for airport staff to teach them how to recognize and address suspected human trafficking at the airport.
Similar training was conducted at the San Francisco airport in March 2012 and at the San Jose airport in January, Boeving said. Deborah Flint, the Oakland airport’s director of aviation, said, “Human trafficking is a global problem that needs local solutions. We can end human trafficking in our region if we know what to look for.”
U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, said human trafficking is “the fastest-growing criminal enterprise globally” and described it as “modern day slavery.”
U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, said, “Sex trafficking and human trafficking is big business in this country and region and it’s high time that we got serious about eradicating it.” Speier said the message that needs to be sent to airport workers and airline employees and passengers is, “If you see something, say something” to the appropriate authorities.Boeving said people who see something suspicious should call the trafficking hotline at 1-888-3737-888.
U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag said that in addition to forcing people to engage in the sex trade, human traffickers force people to work in agriculture and other lines of work and also keep them in debt bondage.
Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley said the campaign to raise awareness at airports and on airplanes “is a tremendous asset in fighting human trafficking.” O’Malley said, “In our neighborhoods and our businesses we need to be the eyes and ears of law enforcement and humanity” in combating trafficking.
Boeving said, “People need to know what human trafficking victims look like at an airport.”She said possible clues are people who aren’t dressed appropriately, such as wearing warm weather clothes when traveling to a cold weather destination, and passengers who don’t know their destination.“Airline employees are essential” to helping fight human trafficking, Boeving said.
Bay Area airport workers learn how to identify human trafficking victims
By Malaika Fraley Oakland Tribune
OAKLAND — Workers at Oakland International Airport on Tuesday began training on how to spot victims of human trafficking as part of a regional effort to stamp out what’s become the world’s fastest-growing criminal enterprise.
Thousands of victims of sex and labor trafficking are shepherded through airports, but they are very rarely rescued there, said Betty Ann Boeving, executive director of the Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition. Officials are sharing this message with airport workers across the board: If you see something, say something.
“The truth is that sex trafficking and human trafficking is big business right here in this country, right here in this region, and it’s high time that we all take notice of it and get serious about eradicating it,” said Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, who along with Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag and Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, is leading an ongoing effort to combat sex trafficking in the Bay Area.
Training airport workers to recognize the signs that a man, woman or child is a victim will save individuals from such modern-day slavery and deter traffickers who masquerade as sports coaches, employers and family members, officials say. Oakland is the last of the Bay Area’s major airports to have workers trained, after San Francisco and San Jose international airports.
“Today is a great day because … we have now circled the Bay in terms of training on sex trafficking, and make sure you appreciate that airports are magnets for sex trafficking,” Speier said. “Conventions, conferences are all ripe for increasing the actual activity that goes on.”
Retraining at Bay Area airports is planned before the 2016 Super Bowl at the San Francisco 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium as sex trafficking in any region is at its highest during major sports events, Boeving said.
Oakland, in particular, is known for having a sex trade problem that is being aggressively tackled by O’Malley and the Oakland Police Department. Criminal street gangs are increasingly using sex trafficking as a moneymaking enterprise because, unlike drugs, they can sell the same boy or girl over and over again, O’Malley said. The majority of sex trafficking victims are minors.
In the last five years, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office prosecuted nearly 400 sex trafficking cases, accounting for almost 50 percent of such prosecutions in the entire state, O’Malley said.
“(Airports are) the No. 1 place we should try to intercept (victims) because they are outside of the hands of the trafficker often,” Boeving said. “These girls are sometimes put on a plane from Chicago to arrive in San Francisco, and so we are hoping that in transit is a place where someone could actually come to their rescue.”
Contact Malaika Fraley at 925-234-1684. Follow her at Twitter.com/malaikafraley.
Oakland airport workers trained to spot sex traffickers
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Congresswoman Jackie Speir addressed the crowd at the airport Tuesday April 15, 2014 in Oakland, Calif. Oakland International airport workers were given special training on spotting human traffickers and sexual exploiters of children. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle | Buy this photo
The red flag might be the way the man makes a point of answering the ticket agent’s questions, so the teenage girl with him doesn’t have to talk.
Or the young boy doesn’t know where his flight is going, and appears to be under the control of the man who claims to be his coach.
Or the girl flying alone insists her boyfriend paid for her flight, though she has never met him in person, but only on Facebook.
These are scenarios that should raise the suspicions of airport workers who are uniquely positioned to help rescue victims of child sex trafficking, local, state and federal officials told a roomful of Oakland International Airport employees on Tuesday.
The workers, from blue-uniformed Transportation Security Administration agents and baggage handlers to restaurant workers and gate agents, were taught how to recognize potential victims and their abusers, who take advantage of the fact that minors can fly without identification.
They heard from Shamere McKenzie, 30, of Chicago, a former sex trafficking victim, who warned that abused children may deny being mistreated and are psychologically unable to escape their predators’ clutches. They won’t, she said, go running to the first TSA agent or officer they see at an airport.
Their abusers, in turn, regard them as “commodities, a product that can be bought and sold,” McKenzie said. She told the airport workers to close their eyes and picture their own children being forced to engage in sex acts. One woman, who appeared to dab at her eyes, got up and left.
Some 10 million people travel through the Oakland airport each year. Similar training was conducted at San Francisco International Airport in 2012 and at Mineta San Jose International Airport in January.
The employees were thanked by a host of leaders, including Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag and Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley.
“Modern-day slavery should never exist in the world, and especially here at the Oakland International Airport,” Lee said.
Speier noted that big conventions and sporting events like the Super Bowl boost demand in host cities for illicit sexual services.
“Airports are magnets for sex trafficking,” Speier said. “Keep your eyes open, and if you see something, say something.”
More warning signs: a child doesn’t make eye contact with anyone, an adult stares directly at a child, or a teen carries no personal items. In an extreme case, a trafficked child might have a bar code tattoo on her neck, signaling she is owned.
“It might be somebody who’s not dressed for the appropriate weather for the place they’re going to. They’re in shorts in the middle of the winter, flying to Chicago,” said Betty Ann Boeving, executive director of the Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition.
Boeving said it’s better to be nosy and turn out to be wrong – a child could simply be uncomfortable about flying – than to let a potential victim of abuse elude rescue.
“We encourage anybody, if you see a situation that actually is uncomfortable to you, that you think about that person in the situation who is probably 10 times more uncomfortable, or more,” Boeving said.
Oakland airport workers learn how to identify human trafficking victims – Times-Herald
By Malaika Fraley MediaNews Group/ Posted: 04/16/2014 12:58:21 AM PDT
OAKLAND — Workers at Oakland International Airport on Tuesday began training on how to spot victims of human trafficking as part of a regional effort to stamp out what’s become the world’s fastest-growing criminal enterprise.
Thousands of victims of sex and labor trafficking are shepherded through airports, but they are very rarely rescued there, said Betty Ann Boeving, executive director of the Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition. Officials are sharing this message with airport workers across the board: If you see something, say something.
“The truth is that sex trafficking and human trafficking is big business right here in this country, right here in this region, and it’s high time that we all take notice of it and get serious about eradicating it,” said Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, who along with Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag and Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, is leading an ongoing effort to combat sex trafficking in the Bay Area.
Training airport workers to recognize the signs that a man, woman or child is a victim will save individuals from such modern-day slavery and deter traffickers who masquerade as sports coaches, employers and family members, officials say. Oakland is the last of the Bay Area’s major airports to have workers trained, after San Francisco and San Jose international airports.
“Today is a great day because … we have now circled the Bay in terms of training on sex trafficking, and make sure you appreciate that airports are magnets for sex trafficking,” Speier said. “Conventions, conferences are all ripe for increasing the actual activity that goes on.”
Retraining at Bay Area airports is planned before the 2016 Super Bowl at the San Francisco 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium as sex trafficking in any region is at its highest during major sports events, Boeving said.
Oakland, in particular, is known for having a sex trade problem that is being aggressively tackled by O’Malley and the Oakland Police Department. Criminal street gangs are increasingly using sex trafficking as a moneymaking enterprise because, unlike drugs, they can sell the same boy or girl over and over again, O’Malley said. The majority of sex trafficking victims are minors.
In the last five years, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office prosecuted nearly 400 sex trafficking cases, accounting for almost 50 percent of such prosecutions in the entire state, O’Malley said.
“(Airports are) the No. 1 place we should try to intercept (victims) because they are outside of the hands of the trafficker often,” Boeving said. “These girls are sometimes put on a plane from Chicago to arrive in San Francisco, and so we are hoping that in transit is a place where someone could actually come to their rescue.”
KTVU (noon, live) Anti-Human Trafficking Training at Oakland International
KGOTV http://mediacenter.tveyes.com/downloadgateway.aspx?UserID=92542&MDID=3066854&MDSeed=7868&Type=Media
KGO Radio – Human trafficking
Labor and Sex traffickers often smuggle their victims through airports. That’s why Oakland International Airport today lauchned a comprehensive training program for their workers. KGO’s Leslie Brinkley was there.
The FBI, Department of Homeland Security, heavy hitting politicians all underscored a disturbing trend. “Airports are magnets for sex traffickers,” Congresswoman Jackie Speier. “They bring their victims to conferences, conventions, it’s where they make their big bucks.” “What we are doing today is really training the airport workers to start to recognize signs of human trafficking.” Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley says they prosecuted 400 human traffickers in Oakland the last few years. US attorney Melinda Haag says this training already took place at San Francisco and San Jose airports. “so the flight attendants, pilots, baggage handlers see it, recognize it and think about reporting it.” In Oakland, I’m Leslie Brinkley, KGO 810.
Capitol Public Radio – Human Trafficking
A Bay Area Congresswoman told students at UC Berkeley yesterday that she will introduce federal legislation to strengthen laws to protect students in sexual assault on campuses. Congresswoman Jackie Speier said one ways to do that is to require universities to interview every student who has complained they’ve been assaulted.
KCBS – Human Trafficking
Oakland International has become the third major airport in the Bay Area to train its workers to identify victims of human trafficking. KCBS’ Margy Schafer reports from Oakland where dozens of workers learned the warning signs of this modern day slavery.
Among the workers at the Human Trafficking Awareness training was airline employee Isaac who learned that an estimated 200,000 children a year are victims of human trafficking. “It’s amazing. I was blown away by the actual number and that it happens here in the Bay Area.” Red flags include being unusually submissive to the person accompanying them and exhibiting signs of physical abuse. Tatum King with Homeland Security says many victims are transported on commercial aircraft. “DHS has a program called the Blue Campaign where we come out and work with our NGO partners like Airline Ambassadors or the Bay Area Anti Human Trafficking Coalition to get the information out.” Founder of the non-profit Airline Ambassadors Nancy Rivard shared a phone call she received just yesterday from a self-described victim of human trafficking. “All I’m trying to do is move to a different city and I’m having trouble with the people around me. I already had to call the police once.” While this man could speak for himself, many victims do not have the ability to speak out. At Oakland International, I’m Margy Schafer, KCBS.
