President's Peace Commission

Spring 2006  Program


Trafficking in Humans

Tuesday, March 21 - Thursday, March 23, 2006


 
*All panels will be held in Conference Room A of the University Center, unless otherwise noted.

 

 Tuesday, March 21

 

9:45 - Father Bernie Lee - Opening prayer

 

9:45 - 11:00 - Trafficking 101: Modern-Day Slavery
What is trafficking?
What are some causes of trafficking?
Who gets trafficked?
How are people trafficked?
Why are people trafficked?

            Speakers:         Barbara Paleczny, SSND,  PhD, Social Teaching and Human                                          Rights; Founder, South TX Coalition Against Human Trafficking

                                    Dottie Laster, StMU Alumna, Volunteers with victims

            Moderator:       Dr. Charles Cotrell 

 

11:10 - 12:25 - We�ve Seen the Horror: Witnesses to Trafficking
What are some of the horrific experiences common to all trafficked persons?
How do witnesses deal with the physical, emotional, and mental distress associated with trafficking?
What major troubles do witnesses encounter when combating trafficking?
How do witnesses, especially trafficked persons, move forward from the horror? Can they truly do so?

            Speakers:         Kathi West, Victim-Witness Coordinator, U.S. Attorney�s Office

                                    Charles Ray, MS, Diplomat in Residence, University of Houston

            Moderator:       Ann Semel, SSND, PhD, English & Comm. Studies, StMU

 

12:35 - 1:30 - Trading in Human Misery:  The Economics of Human Trafficking
What are the estimates of the total value (global) of the human trafficking market?
What are the estimates of the total value in the US of the human trafficking market?
Where does the money go�to individuals, organized crimes, government?
What are the forces of supply and demand that drive the human trafficking market?
Are there economic solutions to the crisis?

            Speaker:           Amy LeMar, Department of Justice, Victims of Crime Office

            Moderator:       Alejandro Velez, PhD, Economics, StMU

 

Tuesday Evening Session

 

7:00 - 8:30pm  Trafficking in Humans: An Inside View

             Introduction:     Charles Cotrell, PhD, President, StMU

            Speakers:         Amy LeMar, Dept. of Justice, Victims of Crime Office

                                    Terry Coonan, JD, MDiv, Exec. Dir., Florida State                                                                      Univ. Ctr. for the Advancement of Human Rights

 

~Reception to Follow~

 

 

Wednesday, March 22

 

9:20 - 10:10 - Broken Dreams, Broken Bodies: Trafficking in Children
Why are children such easy targets for trafficking?     
 Who is profiting from child trafficking?
Why is it so hard to disrupt children trafficking rings?
What are the stories that bring hope against trafficking and of survivors from trafficking?

            Speakers:         Marianist NGO

            Moderator:       Andrew Hill, Dir., Service Learning Ctr., StMU, and PPC

 

10:20 - 11:10 - Sex, Servitude and Suffering

            Speakers:         Brenda McFarlane, Catholic Charities, Refugee Resettlement and                                              Trafficking

                                    Patricia Owen, PhD, Chair, Psychology, StMU

            Moderator:       Kavita Bhalla, Student, StMU, and PPC

 

11:20 - 12:10 - Seeking Solutions: Making Laws Work  (Elijah)
How have new trends in human trafficking challenged laws and enforcement?
 How can the government prosecute traffickers and protect victims at the same time?
What are some of the worst problems enforcement and prosecution personal face in dealing with human trafficking?
What are some of the current policies on trafficking and its victims?

            Speaker:    Terry Coonan, Exec. Dir., Florida State Univ. Ctr. for the Advancement of Human Rights

            Moderator:  Dr.Richard Pressman

 

12:20 - 1:10 - Responding to Trafficking: Communities Taking Action 
What does human trafficking look like in the U.S.?
 What is the federal, state and local response?
 What has law enforcement been doing to combat?
What can students do to help?

            Speakers:         South Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking

            Moderator:       Migdalia Garcia, Service Learning Ctr., StMU, and PPC

 

Thursday, March 23

 

9:45 - 11:00     Film Selections and Discussion

                                                Michael Cory Davis�s, Svetlana's Journey

                                                Free the Slaves

                                                Health and Human Services�, Rescue and Restore

 

11:10 - 12:25   Film Selection and Discussion

                                                Stevo Chang�s, Fields of Mudan

 

12:35 - 1:50     Art of Peace Award & Annual President's Peace Concert                                                        
                        Peace Concert: Performance by St. Mary�s University Jazz Ensemble

             

                        Introduction:     Richard Pressman, PPC                                   

                        Presenter:         Bernard Lee, SM, ThD

                        Recipient:         Barbara Paleczny, SSND,  PhD, Social Teaching and                                                     Human Rights; Founder, South Texas Coalition Against                                                               Human Trafficking

 

Special Location: Java City

Rain Location: UC Conference Room A