Schuette to speak on trafficking issue, April 28

Michigan Attorney General William Schuette will be the keynote speaker at a Tuesday, April 28, program in Troy titled  “Not in My Backyard: Conquering Human Trafficking in Michigan.”

The program will begin at 11 a.m. at Walsh College in Troy, for the purpose of alerting the community about the acceleration of a crime that is impacting communities throughout the state. As attorney general, Schuette has helped spearhead the fight against this horrific crime by prosecuting the state’s first-ever criminal cases under the state law banning human trafficking in Michigan.

“Around the country, and right here in Michigan, men, women and children are forced into prostitution, domestic servitude and other labor for little or no pay,” said Schuette. “Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery and it is the second-largest and fastest-growing criminal industry in the world.

“Victims of human trafficking are in bondage through force, fraud or coercion, for the purpose of sex or labor exploitation,” Schuette added. “Our children are especially at risk.  The Bureau of Justic statistics found that 40 percent of human trafficking cases involve the sexual exploitation of a child. As the attorney general, it is my obligation to guarantee that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist.”

Lori Blaker, president of the Metro Detroit Chapter of the U.S. National Committee for UN Women and CEO of TTi Global, acknowledged Schuette’s contributions to the fight to abolish human trafficking.

“Attorney General Schuette has worked to establish a special unit to prosecute human traffickers and has worked aggressively with law enforcement task forces to ferret out modern day slavers and to put an end to their trade in human beings, especially child victims,” Blaker said. “He also has conducted trainings for law enforcement and prosecutors, and works with community advocates to raise awareness of this crime. We think it is important that the public knows what is happening.”

Moderating the event will be Paul W. Smith of WJR. The list of panelists includes: Jane White, executive director of the State of Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force; Dan Tewilliager, special agent in charge, Homeland Security; Theresa Flores, survivor/founder of S.O.A.P. and author of “The Slave Across the Street”; and Edee Franklin, founder and executive director of Sanctum House, a shelter for victims.

The event is being sponsored in part by Baker Tilley, TTi Global, The Detroit Press Club, Plus One Meetings, and Prain Development.

The event is open to the public. Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for college students, and free to students 18 and under. Space is limited and advanced registration is encouraged.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 248-417-6725 or online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1376005.