CSU symposium helps equip global front lines in fight against human trafficking

Kathy Givens, internationally renowned speaker, author, human trafficking conqueror and compelling voice for change, was one of three keynote speakers who shared their insights on trauma, healing and resilience at the fourth Northern Colorado Human Trafficking Symposium held virtually this spring.

The symposium, held April 11-12, is a biennial collaborative event hosted by the CSU Center for Ethics and Human Rights, the Richardson Foundation, the U-COUNT Campaign, Hope Roots and d other sponsors. The symposium aimed to engage and educate the global community on the issue of human trafficking through research, training and collaboration.

This year's symposium was themed “Equipping the Global Frontlines” and brought together 1,217 participants from several countries, including India, Thailand and Colombia. The symposium brought together prominent survivor leaders as keynote speakers and included prominent academic researchers and influential allies as presenters and moderators during the professional development and research discussion sessions. Topics covered at the symposium include protecting children from online sexual exploitation, global human trafficking, trauma, healing and resilience, intersectionality, transitioning from oppressed victim to survivor leader, disruption of the commercial sexual exploitation market and others.

Recovery from trauma

In her talk titled “Meaningful Partnerships, Intersectionality, and the Role of Survivor Leadership,” Givens explained how healing from trauma is a lifelong process.

“Partnerships to end human trafficking cannot be effective without listening to and learning from survivors,” she said. “It is important for each of us to ask ourselves how we can use our skills and walk alongside survivors in partnership. »

Jesse Leon, another keynote speaker and award-winning bilingual author of the book “I’m Not Broken,” shared his journey through violence, exploitation and healing. Christian Eduardo spoke about his experiences surviving commercial sexual exploitation and working as a trafficked immigrant in the United States.

The symposium brought together prominent survivor leaders and trauma experts, including Rebecca Bender, Wade Arvizu, Melissa Kaiser and Maria Tell. Additionally, legal experts from Burg Simpson, a leading trial law firm that has been in business for 40 years and has achieved victory against some of the world's richest corporations, discussed the legal tools available to fight against human trafficking. David TeSelle, Lauren Knapp and Morgan Carroll represented their team of 65 attorneys and provided an overview of criminal and civil legal tools for survivors, the intersection of criminal and civil law, and civil remedies available to support survivors and seek accounts to traffickers.

The symposium was organized by Lumina Albert, associate professor of business management and ethics and executive director of the Center for Ethics and Human Rights.