Solidarity Center

The Solidarity Center is a non-governmental organization that works to advance worker rights and promote social and economic justice around the world. Founded in 1997, the organization is based in Washington D.C. and has field offices in more than 60 countries. The Solidarity Center’s approach focuses on empowering workers to build strong unions, engage in collective bargaining, and advocate for their rights in the workplace and in society.

The issue of human trafficking is closely related to the work of the Solidarity Center, as it often involves exploitation of workers and violation of their basic rights. Many victims of trafficking are forced into labor and subjected to abusive and unsafe working conditions, including long hours, low pay, and no job security. The Solidarity Center works to combat trafficking by promoting worker rights and strengthening labor protections, as well as by supporting victims and providing them with resources and assistance.

In many of the countries where the Solidarity Center operates, including Senegal, human trafficking is a major concern. Senegal is a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking, with many women and children forced into domestic servitude, agricultural work, and other forms of exploitation. The Solidarity Center works with local organizations and unions to raise awareness about trafficking, provide support services to victims, and advocate for stronger legal protections and enforcement.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is another organization that works closely with the Solidarity Center, particularly in the context of global health and workers’ rights. The WHO has recognized that human trafficking is a public health concern, as it often involves physical and psychological harm to victims and can spread infectious diseases. The Solidarity Center and the WHO collaborate to promote health and safety in the workplace, including through the prevention and mitigation of trafficking and exploitation.

In Serbia, where the Solidarity Center has a field office, human trafficking is a significant issue, particularly for women and girls who are forced into sex work and other forms of exploitation. The Solidarity Center works with local unions and civil society organizations to raise awareness about trafficking, provide support services to victims, and advocate for stronger legal protections and enforcement. The organization also supports efforts to improve working conditions and strengthen labor rights, which can help prevent trafficking and exploitation in the first place.

In summary, the Solidarity Center plays an important role in addressing the issue of human trafficking by promoting worker rights, strengthening labor protections, providing support services to victims, and advocating for stronger legal protections and enforcement. The organization collaborates with other groups, including the World Health Organization, to promote health and safety in the workplace and mitigate the harm caused by trafficking and exploitation. In countries like Senegal and Serbia, where trafficking is a significant concern, the Solidarity Center works with local organizations and unions to raise awareness, support victims, and promote systemic change to prevent trafficking and exploitation.

 

 

FACT SHEET: President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
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FACT SHEET: President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

Today, the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF) met for the second time in the Biden-Harris Administration.  A member of the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking also joined the meeting and spoke about the Council’s 2022 report, which includes insights and recommendations for how the Federal Government can…

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…

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…

ATEST Requests Biden-Harris Administration Dedicate $1.25 Billion to Combat Human Trafficking in Fiscal Year 2024
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ATEST Requests Biden-Harris Administration Dedicate $1.25 Billion to Combat Human Trafficking in Fiscal Year 2024

ATEST Requests Biden-Harris Administration Dedicate $1.25 Billion to Combat Human Trafficking in Fiscal Year 2024 October 5, 2022 • 12:42 pm • Terry FitzPatrick WASHINGTON – The scale of forced labor is increasing worldwide, and the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST) is recommending the U.S. government increase funding to meet the growing human…

ATEST Urges California’s Governor to Sign Bill Regulating Foreign Labor Recruitment
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ATEST Urges California’s Governor to Sign Bill Regulating Foreign Labor Recruitment

Terry FitzPatrick California has often been a human rights trendsetter, and Governor Gavin Newsom has an opportunity this month to extend safeguards for temporary migrant workers who are too easily exploited in forced labor, debt bondage and other forms of severe labor abuses.. The State Assembly has passed AB 364, which ATEST has endorsed, to…

New Statistics Underscore Need for Reauthorization of Trafficking Victims Protection Act and Significant Increase in Funding for Anti-trafficking Programs | ATEST Releases Updated Fact Sheet for Federal Candidates in 2022 Midterms
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New Statistics Underscore Need for Reauthorization of Trafficking Victims Protection Act and Significant Increase in Funding for Anti-trafficking Programs | ATEST Releases Updated Fact Sheet for Federal Candidates in 2022 Midterms

Terry FitzPatrick WASHINGTON – This week’s release of the latest Global Estimates of Modern Slavery is an urgent call to action. More people have been trafficked into forced labor worldwide than ever before. Globally, 28 million people are toiling against their will every day at factories, construction sites, mines, farms, brothels, and in private homes…