Gender and Justice Conference - Dr. Laura Lederer, J.D.

Dr. Laura Lederer opened Saturday’s plenary session with a story telling of a recent experience visiting the Red Light District in India, where the buying and selling of women is popular and practiced frequently. Human trafficking is the 3rd largest commercial industry, exceeded by drug trafficking. Over 70 countries have passed laws to stop human trafficking in the last decade. Over 200 billion dollars are spent every year for the commercial and sexual exploitation and trafficking. The term human trafficking only came into focus during the early 90s. Then, cases started to come to light everywhere. While ten years ago, there was no real knowledge of the problem on a legislative level, even now there is still a lack of education on this important human rights issue.
Why is this such a popular industry? It is low risk and highly rewarding for criminals. With growing technologies (gps, texting, etc), criminals are finding new ways to hide trafficking and market broadly with little investment. What is being done about this? The US is the first to draft and pass a law that prosecutes and punishes the perpetrators and serves to protect, rehabilitate and reintegrate victims. This is being used as a model for other nations. The US is unique in approaching the laws from a victim centered perspective. The enforcement and successful completion of these ideals is still a work in progress.

The solution, Lederer says, is in the support and strength of nongovernmental organizations. Governments must provide resources for legal responsibilities, education and tools for nongovernmental organizations. It is through collaboration and cooperation with faith based organizations and nonprofit organizations that the restoration of individuals will be achieved. Organizations can provide education, raise money for awareness, build campaigns, utilize new technologies to protect, working specifically to drive down the demand by educating young men about the importance of not buying human beings and the implications of prostitution and pornography.

Dr. Laura Lederer is the Senior Director for Global Projects and Executive Director, Senior Policy Operating Group Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, U.S. Department of State.