Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation
U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Elaine L. Chao
The “Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation ” was a virtual event hosted by the U.S. Department of Transportation took place Dec. 8th, 2020.
This virtual event featured remarks by Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao and highlighted counter-trafficking initiatives across the transportation sector as well as remarks by Airline Ambassadors star trainer and human trafficking survivor – Donna Hubbard. See her remarks below:
“Thank you Acting Under Secretary Szabat for your kind introduction. And to your team who have supported my participation on this panel. It is encouraging that we have so many transportation stakeholders today actively engaged in combating human trafficking.
I would like to briefly share my reason for being engaged and inspired in the fight to end human slavery before highlighting some of my advocacy efforts and emphasizing what you – as transportation stakeholders must do to make a difference.
Imagine a young mother from a loving family who is full of potential, a great job and a life of promise. Her only fault is looking for love in all the wrong places. She gets the dream job as a flight attendant and when she thinks she has found that someone special, the first man to treat her like a princess, she wakes up at a party realizing she had been drugged, and is being raped and violated, by strangers waiting in line. She was betrayed by the man she thought loved her.
Maybe you can’t imagine that, but the truth is it happened and I was that girl. When I woke up that night alone and violated, I was overcome with crippling shamed, fear confusion and in desperation I ran with my children to the other side of the country.
I settled into a desolate apartment with 3 young children and no job, no resources and no family or friends. I found myself in the grip of a pimp who trafficked me before selling me to a gang. I was told to do what I was told or one of my daughters would take my place and I would do anything to protect my children. The less they knew the safer they were. I was already damaged goods and began using drugs and alcohol to deal with the pain and emotional trauma, gang crime, exploitation, prostitution, and violence became my way of life.
I was trafficked by airplane, in and around truck stops, and on public transit, and at bus terminals. My only way out of enslavement was to be arrested which led to a gang conviction and incarceration. I lost everything including my freedom and my children. But it was there I found the strength to regain my life, my family and my dignity. Still no one should have to go to prison to be free.
I was released in 1992. Since then, I have created a platform as a speaker and trainer and remained committed to healing myself and others through anti-human trafficking advocacy.
I founded Woman at the Well Transition Center, where we have assisted in helping more than 6,000 incarcerated or exploited women, girls, and men. Our work includes direct services, mentoring, training, counseling, addiction treatment and recovery support. Our projects include family support and reunification. After release, we offer life skills and employment readiness. Our methods include street intervention, jail and prison programs, for women and girls impacted by the criminal justice system or rescued from human trafficking.
As a Director with Airline Ambassadors International, I train aviation and airline employees, representatives from airports, rideshare companies, and trucking companies, and law enforcement officers.
AAI promotes the use of the acronym C.A.R.E. in our trainings to ensure that those we educate have an easy way to remember how to respond when confronted with a suspected trafficking incident. C A R E. We encourage learning how to recognize and report what you witness with as much information as possible to assist law enforcement in identifying suspected activity and prosecuting criminals. What has been critical in confronting and fighting human trafficking is partnering with Airline Ambassadors International in training worldwide transportation specialists which has given my voice as a survivor a global platform even presenting at the UN on two occasions.
I’m a proud flight attendant for American Airlines, I am grateful they saw beyond my circumstances and background, and provide me the opportunity join their “eyes in the sky” in the fight against human trafficking. With a unique perspective and insight on suspected human trafficking I consider myself a valuable asset in identifying and reporting suspected cases.
One of my proudest accomplishments is as a consultant in the development of Circular 352 the mandate to provide counter-trafficking guidelines to cabin crew. This was done through the collaboration of the U.N. and the International Civil Aviation Organization, distributed to 193 member countries.
As transportation stakeholders, you can help in so many ways. Start by remembering that victims can be a family member, your neighbor, or your child’s classmate. You can take a stand against human trafficking by signing DOT’s “Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking” pledge. Partner with public and private organizations to expand your reach and expertise. Train your employees, raise public awareness within and collaborate across every mode of transportation. Counter and decrease the role of demand in the equation of exploitation. You can help by advocating to train and hire survivors. Take a stand to decriminalize victims in ways that further exploit them. Ensure survivors voices are included in the development of strategies, policies, protocols, programs, and resources. The rescue and redemption of human trafficking survivors must be done with us not simply for us. No more discussions about us without us.
Remember that the worst thing that you can do is nothing, and the best thing you can do is something. Thank you.”
The pledge and other information are available at
https://www.transportation.
