Thursday, October 14, 2010

Michigan Law School to open Sex Trafficking Clinic in Mexico

From Spero News
By Jared Wadley

The Law School's Human Trafficking Clinic, of the University of Michigan, has received a $300,000 federal grant to open a similar clinic in Mexico in 2011.


This U.S. Department of State grant means the new clinic in Zacatecas, Mexico, will help victims of human trafficking, also known as modern-day slavery. This crime involves the recruitment, transportation, harboring or receipt of people for the purposes of slavery, forced labor and servitude.


Human trafficking exists nationwide and across the world. It can be found in many industries: agriculture, spas and massage parlors, hotel work and domestic service, as well as prostitution.


“By awarding us the grant, the State Department acknowledged that the success of our clinic could be replicated elsewhere,” says clinic director Bridgette Carr, a visiting clinical assistant professor of law. “We’re excited about this new venture and look forward to helping victims in Mexico.”

Read the full article here.

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I was excited to see this announcement. Bridette Carr has led amazing work in the U.S. to use the law to protect victims and punish traffickers; she also helped start a similar clinic in Egypt. This collaboration with Mexico will be an important step to assisting victims and building multinational efforts to address slavery. Just as traffickers do not pay attention to borders, efforts to end trafficking need to cross borders and build partnerships across borders.

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:43 PM

    It is truly amazing the kinds of efforts people are making to end human trafficking across he globe. People often take for granted all the freedoms we have in America and are often blinded by our greed and self interest. It is refreshing to see students making this much of an effort to help victims of this ongoing issue. As a college student, it gives me hope that what little I am doing to end human trafficking is making an impact. Thanks for the hope!

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  2. Anonymous12:35 PM

    Hello. We'd like to know more about your work in Mexico. Do you have work in Ciudad Juarez for instance--the world's most violent zone.

    Kalinga Mission

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