Anchorage Anti-Trafficking Events 2018
Andrea Hobart LAXFA and Jeanette Van Niekerk PDX FA
Anti-Trafficking Training, May 17, 2018 at Ted Stevens International Airport
Sponsor: Dr. Jeff Brodsky, Founder of Joy International
Andrea Hobart represented Airline Ambassadors International and shared about AAI’s efforts to educate and bring awareness to those in the airline industry.
Administration: Jeanette Luckey, D.O.T. and Lisa Moore, ANC Airport Leasing Specialist
Other Speakers: Dr. Jeff Brodsky, Gwen Adams of PRICELESS ALASKA, Robert Staton, Trainer to antitrafficking task forces internationally
Attendees: ANC law enforcement, ANC airport and station employees from Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and Ravn.
The Alaska Barefoot Mile on May 19, 2018, Downtown Anchorage
Sponsors: Davis Constructors and Engineers INC. and Joy International.
Purpose: To bring awareness to human trafficking and raise funds to aid in the rescue and recovery efforts in Anchorage and around the world.
Jeanette Van Neikerk (PDX FA) spent a day off traveling to volunteer at this event and walk on behalf of Alaska Airlines. She represented Alaska so well!
More information: Joy.org TheAlaskaBarefootMile.org
Airlines Denounce Trafficking and commit to Action at the 2018 General Meeting at IATA in Sydney, Australia. Bravo to UNODC Goodwill Ambassador – Mira Sorvino for her statement for the IATA General Meeting June 4, 2018!
We appreciate the support of Tim Colehan and IATA encouraging airlines to educate staff on Human Trafficking Awareness. Airline cabin crew and staff can be boots on the ground and boots in the air combating this horrific crime. See this link to IATA website
SYDNEY: Airlines are set to step up the fight against human trafficking, global industry body IATA said Monday (Jun 4) as it released guidelines on how crews can act as “eyes and ears” to identify and report suspected cases.
Human trafficking is the world’s fastest-growing criminal industry and the second-largest after the drug trade, according to the US State Department, and there is an increasing push for the aviation industry to take action.
Airlines speed up fight against human trafficking
Airlines want to speed up worldwide the fight against human trade. Indeed, there are already numerous initiatives of single groups, however, up to now a branch-wide beginning has been absent, said Tim Colehan of the international aviation federation (IATA) at the annual federation meeting on Monday in Sydney. The Austrian Airlines supports the decision like one says on APA inquiry.
New guidelines should help the board staff to recognize suspicion cases and to handle after the landing with the victims. The Austrian Airlines helps carry the decision as one said on APA inquiry. ‘ The flight attendants are in a unique position because they sometimes travel many hours together with the passengers ‘, explained Colehan. Therefore they could also discover the smallest signals and Auffälligkeiten. The beginning also intends the vote with airports and criminal proceedings authorities like customs officials and border officials.
Human trafficking is according to US foreign ministry the fastest growing criminal trade of the world and second largest generally after the drug trafficking. According to the office of the United Nations to the fight against drugs and crime fight (UNODC) it comes at 60 percent of human trade for crossing of international borders. Therefore, the pressure on the aviation industry grows.
Indeed, it adds according to Colehan no information about the magnitude of human trade in the aviation branch, however, new laws squeeze all over the world the airlines to train her flight crew especially. International working organization ILO assumes from the fact that nearly 25 million people live in modern slavery. The main routes of human trade run from Africa in the Middle East and south Europe and Western Europe as well as from South Asia in the Middle East, Eastern Asia and the Pacific region.
Airline Ambassadors has been lobbying the airline industry with the importance of their role in prevention. It is exciting to see the support of both government with the ICAO release of Circular 352 at the High Commission on Human Rights, and the support of IATA, the main business association for airlines.
See this piece on AAI’s survivor trainer by Voice of America and other articles on the Eyes Wide Open initiative HERE and
Despite the evening rain a great team came together to enjoy reconnecting with the leaders of our programs helping vulnerable children worldwide. New and veteran Airline Ambassadors members came together to get inspired by our vision and activities helping children worldwide.
Mrs Washington DC, Kavita Nanavati greeted guests, and pilot from Empire Air, Mitch Tucker flew in all the way from Honolulu for the event. Mission Leaders, Cheryl Robinson, (Philippines and S. Africa), Marie Rivard (Guatemala), Kate Jewell (Nepal) shared as well as Children’s Medical Escorts, Ruth Matranga, Tammy Meade and Teresa Garza, and Human Trafficking Awareness trainers Peggy Durfey and Sharon Robinson were in attendance too.
Alejandro Fernandez will chair our Committee for a Spring Gala so email him at let us know if you want to join our Committee! eyeoptics11@gmail.com.
Fresno Yosemite International Airport sponsored a Human Trafficking Awareness Training on June 25, 2018, that was provided by AIRLINE AMBASSADORS training team: Andrea Hobart, Leslie Power, and survivor Alicia Kozakiewicz.
Representing Congressman Jim Costa, District Director Kathy Mahan shared enthusiasm for combating human trafficking in Fresno. Director of Aviation, Kevin Meikle, welcomed the group along with Vikkie Calderon.
The training was well received and there were approximately 60 attendees, including local government, representatives, airline and airport station management and personnel, TSA and local citizens.
Three news stations attended and here is the report from Desiree Lopez on TV KSEE24: Fresno Airport educates employees on how to identify human trafficking victims. KSEE 24 also reports for Telemundo 51. Here is the report in Spanish 
Local NGO’s working on combating on were also represented and had the chance to share. Founder of MADE FOR THEM, Andrea Shabaglian, and Anti-Human Trafficking Case Manager, Evelyn Gonzalez with the ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION and the Central Valley Freedom Coalition as well as Mollie’s House and the Alicia Project were also highlighted.
MEDIA RELEASE – Fresno Yosemite International Airport to Host
Anti-trafficking Awareness for Airport Personnel and Partners
Fresno, CA – Fresno Yosemite International Airport in partnership with Airline Ambassadors International (AAI), a network of airline employees leading the effort to take the issue of human trafficking to the travel industry, will conduct a training on Monday, June 25, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in the airport terminal lobby conference room for airport and airline personnel on recognizing and reporting human trafficking. The session will offer industry-specific training designed to raise situational awareness by teaching the warning signals and methods of how to handle a suspected trafficking situation.
“Fresno Yosemite International Airport is pleased to collaborate with AAI on creating awareness to keep our community and the traveling public safe,” said Director of Aviation Kevin Meikle. “The industry-specific training will provide our airport team with the support to recognize trafficking related situations and to be the voice for an individual who may be in a desperate situation.”
Featured speaker AAI Human Trafficking Program Director, Andrea Hobart will lead the training. Participants will also hear from Alicia Kozakeiwicz, who will share her personal survivor story and Leslie Power, the airline professional who proposed the training. Participants will include airport and airline personnel, concession team members, federal partners and nearby hoteliers.
The Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission, Central Valley Freedom Coalition, Mollie’s House and Made for Them will be on hand to share materials and services offered by their respective organizations.
“We applaud the initiative of Fresno Yosemite International Airport for highlighting this issue just after the formal release of the International Civil Aviation Organization guidelines and the International Air Transport Association also encouraging all airlines to raise awareness on the most important human rights issue of our times,” said AAI President Nancy Rivard.
The training is consistent with the Blue Lightning Initiative of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and supported by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Fresno Yosemite International Airport – Fresno Yosemite International Airport currently offers Valley passengers daily nonstop flights to Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Guadalajara and Morelia, Mexico on domestic and international carriers. Fresno Yosemite International Airport is a municipally owned entity operating as a self-supporting enterprise. No City of Fresno general funds are used to operate Fresno Yosemite International Airport or Fresno Chandler Executive Airport.
Airline Ambassadors International (AAI) – (AAI) is a U.S. based 501(c)3 non-government organization that is leading the effort to take the issue of human trafficking to the travel industry. It began with a group of flight attendants using their passes to assist children in need, and has expanded to members of all ages and professions. AAI leverages airlines to provide passenger and cargo space for medical and rescue personnel, as well as for food, medicine and humanitarian relief. AAI volunteers also escort children traveling abroad for donated medical procedures and educate on human trafficking awareness.
Like us on facebook.com/FresnoYosemiteInternational or follow us on Twitter @FresnoAirport and Instagram @iFlyFresno .# # #
AAI’s star trainer Donna Hubbard opened the International Aviation Transportation Association (IATA’s) conference on Cabin Safety in Bangkok in May as well as the conference in Geneva on at the High Commission on Human Rights with the formal release of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Circular 352 – Guidelines for airline companies for training of cabin crew on identifying and responding to trafficking in persons. ICAO sets international guidelines for airline companies globally and the launch was made with the full support of the High Commission on Human Rights (UNHCHR). See media stories: UN Agency Urges Mandatory Training; Aircraft cabin crew have new tools to stop human trafficking & Preventing human trafficking by empowering aircraft cabin crew
The conference was opened by Dr. Fang Liu, Secretary General of ICAO and Kate Gilmore (UNHCHR) prior to Donna riveting the crowd with her testimony on the impact on victims : From Tragedy to Triumph. including the story of Airline Ambassadors and her work as a human trafficking awareness trainer. 
Other speakers were Laurent Sauveur on UNHCHR, Janine Von Thungen, with an inspiring interactive exhibit on Trafficking in Persons, Martin Maurino who coordinated the development of of the ICAO Guidelines for Cabin Crew, Julie Abraham of the US Department of Transportation on the Blue Lightning Initiative, Mikela Dontu, who shared inspiring results of training cabin crew at Sky Regional Airlines, Sara Nelson of the Association of Flight Attendants, who helped get training mandated for US flight crew, Tim Coleman of IATA (sharing that this issue will be emphasized again at the General Meeting of IATA in early June in Sydney). Closing remarks were made by Catalin Radu (ICAO) and Mona Rishmawi, OHCHR.
We had some fun and got to see a bit of Geneva too including Uptown Downtown the upscale shop for vintage designer brands of our colleague Gigi Gya. We did some research in the “red light” district and had a great dinner with friends.
AAI trainers Sherry Saehlenou & Nancy Rivard with Landry Carr from US State Dept.
Donna Hubbard with colleagues from Lufthansa
Julie Abraham, from US DOT, departing
This sign greets all who arrive or depart from Geneve!
May 9,10 Aviation Festival Miami
provided a short training for the members of the Russian Delegation. In hopes to train the Russian airlines, as well as the rest of the transportation industry and more, we are very excited to continue bringing awareness around the world about human trafficking.
Today, May 21st 2018
Overview and Timeline regarding efforts on Human Trafficking:
Airline Ambassadors International (AAI) has led global airline industry awareness for Trafficking in Persons (TIP) since 2009 and has developed the first industry specific training. AAI provides for vulnerable communities by leveraging partnerships with the airline industry and is comprised of over 16,000 airline employees who “travel to make a difference”.
AAI is the only organization conducting live Counter-Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP) Training at airports. As of January 2018, AAI has conducted 91 C-TIP Events that now link over 7,000 front line air transport professionals with law enforcement. As each flight attendant interacts with a minimum of
500 passengers per week for hours at a time, AAI C-TIP trainees are capable of monitoring over 168,000,000 passengers per year! If all 200,000 Members from the U.S. based Association of Professional Flight Attendants alone were trained, they can effectively monitor over 5.2 billion passengers. According to ICAO 3.7 billion passengers flew in 2016.
First there was two Congressional Briefings, and when airlines did not respond, AAI began providing our Counter-Trafficking In Persons (C-TIP) Program in Airports. Here is the timeline:
2010 July – Washington DC, AAI Congressional Briefing to Airlines with Congressman Chris Smith
2010 October – Washington DC, AAI Congressional Briefing to Embassies with Congressman Joe Pitts
AAI Training and Presentations
- 2011 Jan. – DFW, Traffic 911, APFA, AFA, PNH Haiti, Pre-Super Bowl Training
- 2011 Jan. – Miami, PNH Haiti, U.S. Southern Command TIP Presentation
- 2011 May – IAD, Governor McConnell and IAD signing of VA Trafficking Bills and Training
- 2011 June – Washington DC, Testimony House Committee on Foreign Affairs
- 2011 Sept. – Sacramento – ITMI (International Tourism and Management Intl) Training
- 2012 Nov. – Honolulu, HNL Training
- 2012 Jan. – SFO, with Congresswoman Jackie Spears, Training
- 2012 March – DCA, with Rep. Chris Smith and Joe Pitts, Training
2012 Apr. – SFO ITMI International Tourism and Management HQ, Staff Training- 2012 Sept. – Indianapolis, Travelers Aid International Conference Training
- 2013 Jan – MSY, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport Training
- 2013 May – Washington DC, Embassy of Ukraine, Presentation with Ambassador Motsyk, Rep. Smith -Presentation
- 2013 June – Kiev, Ukraine, Ministry of Infrastructure at OSCE with Rep. Smith, Training
- 2013 Oct. – Interpol, Human Trafficking Conference in Lyon, Presentation
- 2013 Sept – ASIS, Chicago, Security Conference presentation with DHS Presentation
- 2014 Jan. – Washington DC, Testimony, House Committee on Foreign Affairs Testimony
- 2014 Jan. – SJC, San Jose, California with Congressman Honda, Training
- 2014 April – 2014 Oakland, California with Congresswoman Barbara Bell, Training
- 2014 April – Washington DC, AAI Members, ECPAT Signing (1st NGO to sign ECPAT Code)
- 2014 April – Washington DC at United Nations Foundation Train the Trainers Session Training
- 2014 June – London, DISPAX Conference Training
- 2014 June – Humanitarian Summit Presentation, United Nations, NY
- 2014 Sept. – SAC, Sacramento International Airport Authority Training
- 2014 Feb. – PHX, Phoenix, AZ pre-Super Bowl Training
- 2014 Aug – Tampa, FL, TPA with Innocents at Risk Training
- 2014 Oct. – Chicago, ORD, Safe Conference Training
- 2014 Dec. – Alexandria VA, Spectrum Group staff, TIP Awareness in Airline Industry Presentation
- 2015 Jan. – MSP, Airport Police Minneapolis International Airport Group 1 Training
- 2015 Jan. – MSP, Airport Police Minneapolis International Airport Group 2 Training
- 2015 Feb. – ORD, Chicago O’Hare Intl. Airport, Dept. of Aviation Chicago, Group 1 Training
- 2015 Feb. – ORD, Chicago O’Hare Intl. Airport, Dept. of Aviation Chicago, Group 2 Training
- 2015 Apr. – Las Vegas Association of Flight Attendants Board of Directors Training
- 2015 April – Las Vegas, NV, Train the Trainers at LAS Training
- 2015 June – EWR, Newark International Airport, Association of Flight Attendants Training
- 2015 July – DFW, Dallas Ft. Worth Airport, Association of Professional Flight Attendants Training
- 2015 Oct. – Budapest, Hungary with Government of Hungary Training
- 2015 Oct. – Budapest, Hungary with Government of Hungary Training
2016 Jan. – San Francisco International Airport Training pre-Super Bowl Training - 2016 Jan. – San Francisco International Airport pre-Super Bowl Training
- 2016 Jan. – San Jose Norman Minetta International Airport pre-Super Bowl Training
- 2016 Jan. – San Jose Norman Minetta International Airport pre-Super Bowl Training
- 2016 Jan. – Oakland International Airport, pre-Super Bowl Training
- 2016 Feb. – Dulles Airport Managers, Training
- 2016 April – Dutch Government, Amsterdam Schipol Airport, KLM and Airport Presentation
- 2016 May – Dallas, Regional Airlines Association Annual Conference, Presentation
- 2016 June – Riga Latvia, AVSEC Conference on In Flight Emergency Response Training
- 2016 Aug 24 – Bogota, Colombia International Airport, Ministry of Interior and UNODC Training
- 2016 Aug. 30 – Las Vegas International Airport Training
- 2016 Aug. 31 – San Diego International Airport Training
- 2016 Oct. 2 – DFW, Critical Incidence Response Team, American Airlines Training
- 2016 Oct. 14 – Dulles International Airport Training
- 2016 Sept. 21 – University of District of Colombia Training
- 2016 Oct. 25 – Houston International Airport with Rep. Lee’s Commendation Award and Training
- 2016 Nov. 1 – Dallas, American Airlines Training Staff, AA Flagship University Training
- 2016 Dec. 2 – Jamaica, Kingston, Shamere McKenzie Training
- 2017 Jan. 26 – Houston, Hobby Airport Pre Super Bowl, Trainers Accreditation Seminar Training
2017 Jan. 27 – City Council Nassau Bay – Pre-Super Bowl Training Training- 2017 May 3 – Jackson-Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport GA Training
- 2017 May 18 – Anchorage, Ted Stevens International Airport Training
- 2017 May 23 – Vienna Academie Diplomatique UNODC Presentation
- 2017 May 25 – Vienna, Side Event for Commission on the Prevention of Crime, Presentation
- 2017 June 7 – Dallas, National Conference Traveler’s Aid – Presentation
- 2017 June 15 – Kingston International Airport Training
- 2017 June 15 – Kingston International Airport Training
- 2017 June 16 – Montego Bay International Airport Training
- 2017 June 17 – Ocho Rios International Airport Training
- 2017 July 10 – Testimony Senate working Group, Force Multipliers, Air Transport Industry
- 2017 July 21 – Cartagena Airport, Colombia – Law Enforcement Training
- 2017 July 21 – Cartagena Airport, Colombia – Airport personnel Training
2017 Aug. 14 – Manila International Airport – AirAsia personnel Training- 2017 Aug 15 – Kuala Lumpur International Airport – AirAsia personnel Training
- 2017 Aug 16 – Jakarta International Airport – AirAsia personnel Training
- 2017 Aug. 18 – Bangkok Intl. Airport – Air Asia personnel Training
- 2017 Sept. – Vienna UNODC Global MOU to jointly conduct TIP – Presentation
- 2017 Sept. – Vienna AAI Roundtable, Role of Aviation, IATA, DOS, UNODC
- 2017 Sept. – Dubai, Emirates AVSEC Presentation
- 2017 Oct. – Singapore, ICAO Presentation
- 2017 Oct. – Tirana, Albania, INTERPOL Presentation
- 2017 Nov. 27 – McLean, VA., Madeira School Training
- 2017 Nov. – Washington DC, United Nations Association Presentation and Awards ceremony
- 2017 Nov. – Doha, 2017 INTERPOL Presentation
2018 Jan. 23 – Minneapolis International Airport pre-Super Bowl Training- 2018 Jan. 30 – Mc Carran Las Vegas International Airport Training
- 2018 Feb. 21 – Charlotte International Airport Training
- 2018 Apr. 18 – Haneda Tokyo Airport Training
- 2018 May 7 – Washington, DC, Testimony to Helsinki Commission – Presentation
- 2018 – May 9 – Miami, Presentation to the Aviation Festival
- 2018 May 15 – San Salvador, El Salvador – Hospitality Sector Training
- 2018 May 16 – Guatemala City, Uber Drivers Training
- 2018 May 17 – Antigua, Guatemala, Hospitality Sector and Uber Training
- 2018 May 20 – Geneva, Release of ICAO Guidelines, U.N High Commission on Human Rights, Presentation
- 2018 Jun 25 – Fresno Yosemite International Airport – Training
- 2018 July 10 – Presentation to AA Regional Airlines
- 2018 Aug. 22 – Icelandic Air Training for Trainers – Training Full Day
- 2018 Aug. 27 0 AAAE training for Chicago Dept of Aviation Training – Training Full Day
- 2018 Aug 29 – Singapore Asia Pacific Aviation Training Symposium – Presentation
- 2018 Sept 6 – Association of Asia Pacific Airlines Cabin Safety workshop Presentation
- 2018 Sept 18 – Philadelphia International Airport – am Training
- 2018 Sept 18 – Philadelphia International Airport – pm Training
- 2018 Oct. 28 – Qatar Airways Conference – Presentation
- 2018 Nov. 7 – European Airline Training Symposium – Presentation
- 2018 Nov. 9 – UN Practical Solutions to eradicating Human Trafficking – Presentation
- 2018 Dec. 18 – AAAE training for Chicago Dept of Aviation (Training – Full Day)
- 2019 Jan 18 Las Vegas McCarran Airport am Training
- 2019 Jan 18 Las Vegas McCarran Airport pm Training
- 2019 Jan 29 Atlanta End Human Trafficking Summit – 5 Presentations
- 2019 Feb. 13 Charlotte Airport all day training with AAAE Training
- 2019 Mar.7 – Bucharest, Romania training for US Embassy Training
- 2019 Mar. 8 Bucharest Romania – training for US Embassy Training
This was posted on JetNet – American Airlines internal website about Airline Ambassadors Children’s Medical Escort Program:
Picture this:
You are not quite 4 yrs old and you must leave the security of EVERYTHING you know; Your Momma, your
family, your home Country, your language…all to go with a complete stranger, who takes you on your VERY
first airplane ride, to a unknown land, (USA) to stay with a host family you have never met, all to face a Lifechanging
surgery without the comfort of your family.
THAT is the definition of BRAVE!
Airline Ambassadors International helps to transform the lives of impoverished children that would never be able to afford life-changing medical care & surgery. AAI partners with Children’s Hospitals and works with Airlines (like American) and Airline Staff to volunteer their time to transport these children to the US to receive the medical care they so desperately need. In addition to Medical Escorts, AAI also acts as a first responder for disaster relief, humanitarian missions and human trafficking prevention.
In April, our own Jacqueline Faust (TPA Admirals Club, Premium Services) who volunteers with Airline Ambassadors was chosen to transport 3 ½ yr old Loudethiana from Haiti (PAP) to ATL where she met her Host Family who will provide care for her during and after her surgery for Bladder Exstrophy which was generously
provided by Childspring International.
“Volunteering with Airline Ambassadors, helping to make an immeasurable difference in a child’s life, is spiritual privilege that words cannot describe! I would highly recommend volunteering or donating to this worthy organization. Huge Thanks to American Airlines for being a contributor and making this happen!” –Jacqueline Faust
If you would like to learn more about Airline Ambassadors : www.airlineamb.org
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AAI at Senate Briefing -HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN TRAVEL AND TOURISM CSPAN Coverage HERE |
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NEW CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS Monday, May 7, 2018 3:00 p.m., Russell Senate Office Building Room 485 Live Webcast: www.facebook.com/HelsinkiCommission CSPAN Coverage HERETraffickers move trafficking victims on airplanes, buses, trains, and taxis—frequently relocating to avoid detection by law enforcement and to chase big markets, like major sporting events and vacation destinations. Hotels, often unknowingly, sell rooms to traffickers for exploitation. Over the last decade, transportation and hotel professionals have recognized the role they can play on the front lines of identifying potential trafficking victims. Many organizations work alongside NGOs and the Departments and Homeland Security and Transportation to ensure that their employees are ready to respond to, rather than look away from, victims in plain sight. However, some companies have been slow to join the fight. Legislation pending in Congress will require hotels and airlines to train their employees to spot and report signs of trafficking before the companies can become eligible to win government contracts. More decentralized systems of travel and tourism—such as Airbnb and Uber—may need new frameworks to ensure that their systems do not become the preference of traffickers on the move. The following expert panelists are scheduled to participate: · Tracey Breeden, Director of Safety Communications, Uber · Nancy Rivard, Founder and President of Airline Ambassadors · Carol Smolenski, Executive Director, End Child Trafficking and Pornography (ECPAT), USA · Craig Kalkut, Vice President of Government Affairs, American Hotel & Lodging Association Additional panelists may be added. |
FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN TRAVEL AND TOURISM:
Saber Rock, Nancy Rivard and Congressman Chris Smith who opened the Briefing.
Testimony to the Helsinki Commission May 7, 2018
Fighting Human Trafficking in Travel and Tourism – New Challenges and Solutions”
Airline Ambassadors International (AAI) is a non-profit organization made up of members in the airline industry, which has led advocacy on human trafficking awareness since correctly identifying trafficking on four flights in 2009. We developed the first “industry specific” training which has been provided to 6,000 frontline personnel at 70 airports in the U.S. and around the world. Our work will be highlighted at the release of the new ICAO Guidelines in Geneva and at the IATA Cabin Safety meeting in Bangkok this month.
Because the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2016 made it mandatory for U.S. airlines to train flight attendants, most airlines are utilizing the Blue Campaign’s excellent on line training materials. Delta is still out front – in 2018 they launched an enhanced training tailored for Delta’s 54,000 employees, initiated an apprentice program for trafficking survivors, hosted events to motivate employees, an event for Atlanta based CEO’s and launched a test with new airport signage. This year American Airlines joined Delta and signed the ECPAT Code of Conduct. JetBlue is also committed and was highlighted at the IATA General Meeting last May.
International airlines are jumping on board too. Air Asia and Air Emirates launched initiatives last year and AeroMexico and Copa have joined the international fight by joining the UNODC Blue Heart Campaign.
There are successes:
Airline Ambassadors provided training in Sacramento airport which is proactive for awareness. In February this year, Sacramento AA Agent, Denice Miracle, noticed two girls, aged 15 and 17 who were traveling on a one-way ticket to do some modeling for a man they had met on Instagram. They had told their parents they were spending the night at each other’s houses, Her alertness and critical thinking saved those two girls.
Congress can help by strengthening the laws to encourage airlines to provide training to all employee groups, (including agents, pilots and more). Funding should be increased so the Blue Campaign to provide live trainings to training staff of the 33 major airlines in the U.S. The on line trainings are very good, but many employees to not pay close attention and is often not even mentioned in annual recurrent trainings. Some employees still are not taking the issue seriously.
Here are three examples:
- Last March on a flight from Rome to Chicago all 8 flight attendants were sure that a 50 year old American man was trafficking a 7 year old Albanian girl, they reported it to the pilots (even pointing to the manual where the pilots should radio to alert the upcoming airport), but the pilots refused saying that they didn’t want to get the man in a lot of trouble. “This has never been mentioned in pilot training, and we are not going to take the chance.”
- Agents in Houston heard that we provided an airport training and said “When is someone going to train us? We see potential trafficking every day!”
- I visited airline operations and asked what action they would take if a pilot radioed in a suspected human trafficking cases. They answered “No action – human trafficking is not a threat to aircraft security.” They also need to be trained.
Funding should specify that Train the Trainers (for training staff) should include actual trafficking survivors, to make the issue real, motivating trainers to emphasize this during annual recurrent training.
Airports – also play a key role in awareness:
We helped Chicago, Las Vegas, and San Francisco Airports to implement a training video for all badged employees. Atlanta, Houston, Minneapolis and Sacramento have also been proactive. The DHS Ad campaign is in most Customs areas and A21 signage is in Chicago and New York airports. 1000 “Tips” have been submitted through Airline Ambassadors Tip Line App that is given to our airport trainees. We are saving lives.
However, many airports have not been receptive to offers of training like Los Angeles and Miami. They have said live training is not needed, and there are no resources to support it.
But we know training IS needed. Donna Hubbard, noticed a woman crying outside the bathroom at MIA Airport. She stopped to talk – and the girl said that a man she had met at a bar the night before bought her a ticket on the flight to New York, but she didn’t want to go to New York….she wanted to go home to her mother. Donna contacted the airport police, who intimidated the girl until she said nothing was wrong. It was Donna, a human trafficking survivor herself, who helped intervene and did get the girl back to her mother.
The Human Trafficking Investigations and Trafficking Institute has one of the best trainings out there for law enforcement, but most airports or police departments are reluctant to invest their limited training funds in human trafficking awareness training because it is not mandatory at the state level. Officers continue to treat victims as suspects, not a victim centered approach. Training resources need to be increased for training of travel industry personnel and law enforcement, as coordination is critical to end modern day slavery.
Motivating the Private Sector
Although the private sector is critical in this fight, most airlines truly do not understand the importance of human trafficking awareness and hesitant to integrate new actions into their corporate cultures. They are nervous that vigilante flight attendants will make false accusations and cause a lawsuit and no real motivation to ensure proper training for employees, eliminate trafficking in the supply chain or adopt policies to provide job opportunities for victims. We sent a letter to the CEO’s of 24 airlines and hospitality companies to requesting their openness to hiring survivors of human trafficking – only the American Bus Association responded!
Support is needed to mobilize private sector partners. It was the Caux Roundtable Japan who encouraged All Nippon Airlines to host our presentation in Tokyo last month. If the U.S. joins the international UNODC Blue Heart Campaign, along with 18 other nations, with actress Mira Sorvino at the Goodwill Ambassador, it would encourage airlines, transportation and hospitality companies in the direction of social responsibility.
The critical infrastructure of our transportation system can no longer be used as a tool to implement human trafficking, or modern day slavery. This is also the fastest growing crime in the world. It is linked to drug trafficking, human smuggling, arms trafficking and terrorism, also a cabin safety issue.
In the words of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, the largest flight attendant union in the U.S.:
“We are committed not only to preparing our membership to recognize and report suspected instances of human trafficking, but also to raise public awareness of the problem…putting an end to human trafficking will require a coordinated effort and commitment of the entire transportation industry.”
