Franke Global Leadership Initiative (GLI) Oral Presentations
Tackling Human Trafficking in Missoula: Raising Awareness and Providing Resources
Presentation Type
Presentation
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Jennifer Barile
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Social Work
Abstract / Artist's Statement
Human trafficking is a violation of human rights tantamount to modern-day slavery. Between 2015 and 2021, the Montana Department of Justice discovered an 871 percent increase in tracked human trafficking instances (MT Dept. of Justice, 2023). Trafficking affects an estimated 25 million people worldwide and yields an estimated annual profit of $150 billion; not only does it transcend international borders, but it also impacts vulnerable groups.
After conducting in-person interviews and researching available literature, we found there is a need for further education and support for victims in our local community. We propose a service project that entails raising awareness in the Missoula community as well as providing resources to victims. Specifically, we propose to create short informational flyers with “red flags” that may indicate abusive relationships or human trafficking in a relationship, as well as information about local resources in Missoula available to victims, such as contact information for counseling services or further support from organizations like the YWCA. Beyond simply raising awareness and education on this issue, our group would like to do something tangible to aid local victims. Accordingly, we would like to create supply bags for survivors after hosting a drive on campus. These supply bags would include clothes and hygiene products that would be delivered to the YWCA or the Human Trafficking Task Force (HTTF) for distribution to victims in need of support as they come forward.
Category
Franke Global Leadership Initiative
Tackling Human Trafficking in Missoula: Raising Awareness and Providing Resources
UC 333
Human trafficking is a violation of human rights tantamount to modern-day slavery. Between 2015 and 2021, the Montana Department of Justice discovered an 871 percent increase in tracked human trafficking instances (MT Dept. of Justice, 2023). Trafficking affects an estimated 25 million people worldwide and yields an estimated annual profit of $150 billion; not only does it transcend international borders, but it also impacts vulnerable groups.
After conducting in-person interviews and researching available literature, we found there is a need for further education and support for victims in our local community. We propose a service project that entails raising awareness in the Missoula community as well as providing resources to victims. Specifically, we propose to create short informational flyers with “red flags” that may indicate abusive relationships or human trafficking in a relationship, as well as information about local resources in Missoula available to victims, such as contact information for counseling services or further support from organizations like the YWCA. Beyond simply raising awareness and education on this issue, our group would like to do something tangible to aid local victims. Accordingly, we would like to create supply bags for survivors after hosting a drive on campus. These supply bags would include clothes and hygiene products that would be delivered to the YWCA or the Human Trafficking Task Force (HTTF) for distribution to victims in need of support as they come forward.