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.

 

 

ATEST Recommendations to U.S. Trade Representative on Developing a Forced Labor Trade Policy
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ATEST Recommendations to U.S. Trade Representative on Developing a Forced Labor Trade Policy

Terry FitzPatrick August 5, 2022 The Honorable Katherine Tai U.S. Trade Representative Washington, DC Electronic Submission to Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov Docket Number USTR–2022–0006 Re: Trade Strategy to Combat Forced Labor Dear Ambassador Tai, Thank you for your leadership in the battle against forced labor by announcing that your office will develop a Forced Labor…

ATEST Applauds Overwhelming Bipartisan House Passage of the First of Four Bills to Reauthorize Trafficking Victims Protection Act
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ATEST Applauds Overwhelming Bipartisan House Passage of the First of Four Bills to Reauthorize Trafficking Victims Protection Act

ATEST Applauds Overwhelming Bipartisan House Passage of the First of Four Bills to Reauthorize Trafficking Victims Protection Act July 27, 2022 • 5:37 pm • Terry FitzPatrick WASHINGTON – Legislation to reauthorize the key law that underpins the U.S. government’s efforts to combat human trafficking and forced labor has passed the House of Representatives with…

2022 TIP Report Underscores that Extensive Work is Needed to Improve Global Efforts to Protect People from Human Traffickers
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2022 TIP Report Underscores that Extensive Work is Needed to Improve Global Efforts to Protect People from Human Traffickers

Terry FitzPatrick WASHINGTON – The 2022 U.S. State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which reviews responses by governments to combat human trafficking and forced labor worldwide, reveals that significant increases in political will and funding are needed to meaningfully improve global efforts to end forced labor and sex trafficking. The 2022 report chronicles…

ATEST Urges Quick Confirmation of Cindy Dyer as Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
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ATEST Urges Quick Confirmation of Cindy Dyer as Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

WASHINGTON – The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST) applauds President Biden’s recent nomination of Cindy Dyer to direct the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP), with the rank of Ambassador at Large. We urge the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the full Senate to quickly confirm her nomination.

ATEST Endorses Key Bills to Reauthorize and Strengthen Federal Anti-Trafficking Programs
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ATEST Endorses Key Bills to Reauthorize and Strengthen Federal Anti-Trafficking Programs

WASHINGTON — The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST) is pleased to announce its endorsement of four bills that will reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). The bills each address different components of U.S. anti-trafficking policy and will progress U.S. government efforts to combat the scourge of labor and sex trafficking both inside…

ATEST Testifies to House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security on Ways to Plug Gaps in U.S. Anti-trafficking Programs
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ATEST Testifies to House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security on Ways to Plug Gaps in U.S. Anti-trafficking Programs

April 27, 2022 • 8:37 am • Terry FitzPatrick ATEST is was well represented at Wednesday’s herring of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. Speakers at the session included: ATEST Director Terry FitzPatrick (see written testimony here) ATEST member organization Human Trafficking Legal Center Founder and President Martina Vandenberg (see written…

ATEST Advocates for $1.3 Billion in Federal Funding to Combat Human Trafficking and its Root Causes
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ATEST Advocates for $1.3 Billion in Federal Funding to Combat Human Trafficking and its Root Causes

WASHINGTON – The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST) is asking Congress for substantial increases in federal appropriations for Fiscal Year 2023 to combat human trafficking inside the U.S. and around the world.

ATEST Recommendations on Improving Racial Equity in Federal Anti-Trafficking Programs
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ATEST Recommendations on Improving Racial Equity in Federal Anti-Trafficking Programs

March 15, 2022 • 5:09 pm • Terry FitzPatrick  March 15, 2022 Dr. Kari Johnstone Acting Director Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP) U.S. Department of State Via email Re: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government Docket Number: Public Notice: 11648 Dear Dr. Johnstone: Thank you…

ATEST Recommendations for Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Implementation
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ATEST Recommendations for Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Implementation

Re: Public Comments on Methods to Prevent the Importation of Goods Mined, Produced, or Manufactured with Forced Labor in the People’s Republic of China, Especially in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, into the United States

ATEST Urges Congress to Include Anti-Trafficking Programs in Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Legislation
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ATEST Urges Congress to Include Anti-Trafficking Programs in Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Legislation

Integration of anti-trafficking efforts into U.S. humanitarian response to Ukraine refugee crisis