Announcement
City of Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan meets with anti-trafficking advocates, Mr. Chris Mugwanya (left), Ms. Tabitha Clifford (second from right), and Mr. Billy Huynh (right), at a recent event honoring Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
Photo: IRC
While reliable statistics on the prevalence of human trafficking are hard to come by, we do know that it is a global issue, as well as a local one. Last year alone, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Seattle provided assistance to 200 survivors of labor and sex trafficking in Western Washington through the Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network (WARN).
To raise awareness about this important issue, the Washington Advisory Committee on Trafficking (WashACT), a local task force co-chaired by the IRC in Seattle, partnered with the Office of the Mayor of the City of Seattle and the Seattle Human Services Department to commemorate Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan attended the event to honor seven local trailblazers who have made significant contributions to anti-trafficking work in the state, including WashACT.
The highlight of the event was a panel discussion with survivors of human trafficking who shared their own personal experiences, as well as observations on how to best meet the needs of other survivors. Ms. Tabitha Clifford, Mr. Billy Huynh, and Mr. Chris Mugwanya reflected on what was most challenging for them upon leaving their trafficking situations. For all of them, finding food and shelter and accessing legal assistance were essential to getting back on their feet, yet difficult to obtain. Mr. Huynh and Mr. Mugwanya also spoke of the great fear and uncertainty they experienced on a daily basis due to being undocumented while waiting to receive a special visa available to trafficking survivors.
The speakers also addressed common misunderstandings about human trafficking. Mr. Mugwanya sought to dispel the idea that the sex trafficking of women is the only form of trafficking that exists. He reminded the audience that trafficking can happen to people of every gender identity and involve commercial sexual exploitation, as well as forced labor. Mr. Huynh called on everyone to remember that while trafficking survivors have been through extreme trauma, they are resilient and not defined solely by this experience. Ms. Clifford explained that there are specialized professionals working to assist trafficking survivors and that they are best equipped to intervene in suspected incidents of trafficking, rather than the general public.
The IRC is honored to work alongside advocates like Ms. Clifford, Mr. Huynh, and Mr. Mugwanya. Learn more about the work of WashACT and WARN, and how you can support the IRC’s services for trafficking survivors at WARN-trafficking.org.