Labor and Human Trafficking Seminar Held at Clark County Courthouse
Tuesday, February 26th, 2019 -- 9:04 AM
-The organization UMOS, a non-profit advocacy organization, provide a seminar on labor and human trafficking at the Clark County Courthouse last week.UMOS, funded by a federal grant, provides comprehensive, culturally and linguistically appropriate advocacy and victim services to adults, youth and children impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Human and labor trafficking happens everywhere, even in our small rural communities of Clark County. Roads like Highway 29, Highway 10 and even nearby I-94 provide doors for traffickers to bring victims to urban populations like the Twin Cities. Labor trafficking is the use of force, fraud or coercion to force people to work for excessive hours and poor conditions while being paid very little. Human trafficking is the use of force, fraud or coercion to force people to perform sexual acts for money.
When UMOS comes across cases of labor and human trafficking, they will respond first with law enforcement followed up with legal action and service providers with the ultimate goal leading to the victim’s recovery. UMOS also provides harm reduction, but transitioning out can be difficult for victims. It can be very difficult for victims of labor and human trafficking to leave because of trauma and abuse, blackmail, barriers and many other factors. It can happen for many reasons in many places. Victims and traffickers can be anyone.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.