Final Report of the Subcommittee on Domestic Trafficking

NGO INPUT 4: Input from a Limited Number <strong>of</strong> NGOs asked for FieldInformation and Recommendations to Share with USG Officials on Domestic TIPExcerpts from <strong>the</strong> Conclusions <strong>of</strong> an IOFA DRAFT <strong>Report</strong> – Not for Distribution –Divergent Pathways: As Assessment <strong>of</strong> Services for Minor Victims <strong>of</strong> Trafficking in<strong>the</strong> United States• Which pathway a child victim <strong>of</strong> trafficking must travel is dependant on where he orshe is from. If <strong>the</strong> victim is an alien and in <strong>the</strong> United States, he or she is able toenter an efficient and consolidated program that provides services specific to<strong>the</strong>ir needs as victims <strong>of</strong> trafficking. If <strong>the</strong> victim is trafficked within <strong>the</strong> UnitedStates and a citizen, he or she is excluded from this program and must enter <strong>the</strong>comparatively inefficient and insensitive state foster system.• Both types <strong>of</strong> victims face a common barrier on <strong>the</strong> law enforcement level.Nongovernmental organizations such as <strong>the</strong> International Organization forAdolescents and End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography, and Trafficking <strong>of</strong>Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT) have been working diligently to educatethose who are likely to come in to contact with victims <strong>of</strong> trafficking. Increasing<strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> government spending related to this education is vital to increasing<strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> victim identifications. Moreover, implementing <strong>the</strong> changes in <strong>the</strong>reauthorization <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> TVPA that allow for local enforcement to issue affidavitsendorsing victims as such is essential. This would remove any friction between localand federal law enforcement and allow for victims to obtain services more quickly.• A study that considers <strong>the</strong> financial and practical sustainability <strong>of</strong> allowing domesticvictims to obtain services through <strong>the</strong> same pathway as international victims shouldbe conducted prior to deciding upon a next step. If <strong>the</strong> results <strong>of</strong> such a study showthat it is feasible to no longer distinguish between victims, no such distinction shouldbe made and a statutory amendment to <strong>the</strong> TVPA would be in order. If <strong>the</strong> samestudy concludes that such a consolidation <strong>of</strong> victims is impracticable, efforts must bemade on <strong>the</strong> state level to improve service administration to domestic victims <strong>of</strong>trafficking. Government funds should be directed towards programs that dealspecifically with domestic victims <strong>of</strong> trafficking and sexual exploitation. Pushing<strong>the</strong>se victims into foster care systems that are <strong>of</strong>ten incapable <strong>of</strong> properlyservicing complex mental health issues and incapable <strong>of</strong> providing much neededstability helps no one.81