College of Mount Saint Vincent Will Host Conference on Human Trafficking
2/17/2015
Riverdale, N.Y. – The University of Mount Saint Vincent will host “Migration, Trafficking, and Freedom: We Are All Migrant Peoples,” a one-day conference on human trafficking and modern day slavery, on Friday, April 24, 2015 in Smith Hall from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, “the crime of trafficking in persons affects virtually every country in every region of the world,” and calls it “a heinous crime” that goes largely undetected, unreported, unpunished, and even unrecognized. The U.S. Department of State estimates that 2.5 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation or forced labor.
The conference will increase awareness and foster activism on human trafficking by focusing on sexual exploitation, forced labor, and other forms of involuntary servitude. Workshops and breakout sessions will join participants with experts in the field to discuss why and how migration leads to trafficking, and what can be done to ensure freedom to those suffering.
The keynote speaker will be Father Leonir Chiarello, Executive Director of the Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN). Workshops will include presentations by representatives from the New York Foundling, Covenant House, and Lifeway Network. Breakout sessions will be led by Mount students who, under the aegis of the IPSL service-learning program, have worked with trafficked persons in Thailand during their study abroad experiences.
About the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Mount Saint Vincent offers nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational and career opportunities of New York City, the College equips students with the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary for lives of achievement, professional accomplishment and leadership in the 21st century.