Anti-Trafficking
in New Jersey IF YOU ARE IN AN
EMERGENCY RELATED TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TRAFFICKING RELATED
SERVICES, PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS AT (866) 999-9007 BACKGROUND Human trafficking has become an alarmingly frequent occurrence throughout
the world in recent years. Millions of women, men, and children are trafficked across
borders and within countries for the purpose of slave labor. Many trafficking victims are
forced into domestic servitude, bonded sweatshop labor, migrant agricultural work, or
commercial sexual exploitation. The U.S. government estimates that between 14,500 and
17,500 people are trafficked annually into the United States. Traffickers often prey on
individuals who are poor, frequently unemployed or underemployed, and who may lack access
to social safety nets. Victims are often lured with false promises of good jobs and better
lives, and then forced to work under brutal and inhuman conditions. IINJ and the NJ ANTI-TRAFFICKING INITIATIVEFrom 2003 to 2006, working with the New Jersey State Attorney
General’s Office, Monmouth University School of Social Work, Safe Horizon, and with
support from Congressman Chris Smith, the International Institute of New Jersey created
the New Jersey Anti-Trafficking Initiative. The
Initiative brought together key stakeholders from throughout the state to increase
cooperation and understanding of the problem of Human Trafficking in NJ. Additionally, the
Initiative worked with stakeholders to develop protocols for serving trafficking victims. The intent of these protocols was to help identify
how and where stakeholders may obtain crucial resources and describe a statewide system
for coordination and communication. Key achievements of the Initiative were: · Increased knowledge and understanding of the scope of
trafficking in New Jersey, the benefits available to victims, how to identify and respond
to the special psychological, social, legal and medical needs of trafficked persons · Identified gaps in services, promoted communication among key
stakeholders, coordinated response and made recommendations for change to promote more
effective response to victims’ needs · Developed a statewide system for coordination and communication
among key partners · Developed a statewide resource list of law enforcement,
NGO’s, social service agencies and organizations able to assist victims (New Jersey Resources for Trafficked Persons) NEW JERSEY ANTI-TRAFFICKING COALITIONAdditionally, the Initiative organized the New Jersey
Anti-Trafficking Coalition. Because the
needs of the state are diverse, the Coalition is divided between the Northern and Southern
Coalition. Each group meets every other
month and increases cooperation among NGOs, Service Providers and Law Enforcement. Since March 31, 2006, the Anti-Trafficking
Initiative at the International Institute of New Jersey has transitioned its leadership
role in the Coalition to the NJ Division of Criminal Justice Anti-Trafficking Task Force.
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