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Human trafficking focus of Crime Stoppers conference
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Posted on Aug 18 2008
The chairman of Crime Stopper CNMI chapter recently returned from an annual conference where human trafficking was a focus point.
During the conference held in Des Moines, Iowa, James Arenovski learned about the UK-based anti-human trafficking program Blue Blindfold.
“No one wants to admit we have [human trafficking] in our backyard,” he said.
With Blue Blindfold, trafficking victims around the world will know where to turn to in order to get help, Arenovski said.
He said many victims don’t have confidence in their home country’s police departments so they are afraid to speak up. But with Blue Blindfold they will know where to seek help.
Like the Red Cross, the organization wants to create a logo that people will instantly recognize and could be used around the world.
Arenovski said a former trafficking victim spoke at the conference about his experience. The man, originally from Africa, believed he was going to move to the United States to travel around the country and sing in a church group. He did end up singing, but once he arrived he was locked in a barracks and forced to perform eight shows a day for two years, before a member of the church congregation stepped in and helped him leave the group.
After the man came to the States on a work visa, his passport was taken from him, Arenovski said.
“They had no one to talk to,” he said.
With Blue Blindfold, victims in similar situations can turn to the organization for help, Arenovski said.
He said he does not want to step on the toes of other anti-human trafficking groups but rather wants to “dovetail” with them.
“It’s important to make sure this is an opportunity for us to take one small piece and work with it,” he said.
Members of the U.S. Marshal’s and the European and Russian Interpol chapters took part in the conference.
