Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking

The Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) is a non-profit organization that works to end human trafficking and modern slavery. CAST was founded in 1998 and is based in Los Angeles, California. The organization provides services to survivors of trafficking, including legal assistance, housing, counseling, and other support services. CAST also advocates for strong laws and policies to prevent trafficking and protect survivors. In addition to its work in the United States, CAST also partners with organizations around the world to support the global fight against human trafficking.

 

 

Is the anti-trafficking sector ready for real survivor leadership?
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Is the anti-trafficking sector ready for real survivor leadership?

“Survivor leaders are too often viewed as incapable of learning or doing effective anti-trafficking work, and they are tokenised in ways that deny them the opportunities and respect afforded to other anti-trafficking professionals,” says Chris Ash, the Survivor Leadership Program Manager at the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking.   In their powerful article for…

Debunking myths key to understanding and preventing human trafficking
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Debunking myths key to understanding and preventing human trafficking

By Paula Peterson SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The topic of human trafficking becomes a common headline during Super Bowl week and a recent social media post in South Lake Tahoe has unveiled the need for a better understanding of the topic. The Polaris Project is a non-profit dedicated to the support of human trafficking…

Survivors work to prevent human trafficking, aid victims – U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy
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Survivors work to prevent human trafficking, aid victims – U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy

Victims of human trafficking come from every region of the globe. Increasingly, survivors are taking the lead in the fight against the crime and in helping its victims to heal. To understand the scope of the problem, caused primarily by criminals subjecting victims to forced labor or sex trafficking, one need only see the International Labour Organization estimates, which…

City of West Hollywood Recognizes January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
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City of West Hollywood Recognizes January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

During the month of January, governments, advocacy organizations, anti-trafficking entities, law enforcement officials, survivor advocates, communities of faith, businesses, and individuals all around the world unite to raise awareness to prevent and end human trafficking. In commemoration of the month, from Tuesday, January 10, 2023 through Friday, January 20, 2023, West Hollywood City Hall and…

Congress Passes, President Signs Partial Reauthorization of Trafficking Victims Protection Act
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Congress Passes, President Signs Partial Reauthorization of Trafficking Victims Protection Act

January 6, 2023 • 5:05 pm • Terry FitzPatrick WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden this week signed two bills passed in December during the final days of the 117th Congress to reauthorize portions of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). ATEST applauds enactment of these bipartisan measures and calls on the current Congress to complete…

ATEST Applauds Senate Confirmation of Cindy Dyer as J/TIP Ambassador
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ATEST Applauds Senate Confirmation of Cindy Dyer as J/TIP Ambassador

December 21, 2022 • 5:00 pm • Terry FitzPatrick WASHINGTON – The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST) thanks the U.S. Senate for confirming Cindy Dyer to become the next director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP), with the rank of ambassador. Her appointment by President Biden earlier this…

ATEST Urges Leadership to Bring Cindy Dyer’s J/TIP Director Nomination to Full Senate Vote
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ATEST Urges Leadership to Bring Cindy Dyer’s J/TIP Director Nomination to Full Senate Vote

Terry FitzPatrick December 9, 2022 The Honorable Chuck Schumer U.S. Senate Majority Leader The Honorable Mitch McConnell U.S. Senate Minority Leader Dear Senators Schumer and McConnell, The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST) urges you to quickly bring to a full Senate vote the nomination of Cindy Dyer to direct the Office to Monitor…

ATEST Applauds Senate Passage of the Second of Four Bills to Reauthorize Trafficking Victims Protection Act
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ATEST Applauds Senate Passage of the Second of Four Bills to Reauthorize Trafficking Victims Protection Act

Terry FitzPatrick WASHINGTON – The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST) thanks members of the U.S. Senate for passage this week of the International Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (S. 4171). This bill is a key component of a four-part package of legislation to reauthorize the legal framework for efforts by the United States…

Authorities Warn: Human Trafficking Rises During the Holiday Season
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Authorities Warn: Human Trafficking Rises During the Holiday Season

Federal prosecutors said the fight against human trafficking, a crime that harms some of the most vulnerable members of society, counts among their highest priorities. “We are committed to vindicating the rights of human trafficking crime victims by bringing their traffickers to justice and working to ensure that survivors have access to restitution, services and…

ATEST Joins 30+ Organizations to Oppose Industry Proposal that could Increase Imports of Forced Labor Products into U.S.
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ATEST Joins 30+ Organizations to Oppose Industry Proposal that could Increase Imports of Forced Labor Products into U.S.

Terry FitzPatrick October 20, 2022 The Honorable Chris Magnus Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, DC 20229 Re: Open Letter on Trade Data Transparency Dear Commissioner Magnus, The undersigned organizations and advocates write to express our collective outrage at a  recent proposal driven by industry groups as part of…