Freedom Network Community |
Increased Obstacles to Find Employment
Imagine you are in desperate need of a job to continue paying your bills. You have interviewed for over 20 promising jobs, but you can’t pass the background check because you have a felony drug conviction. This conviction is the…
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Freedom Network Community |
Restricted from Participating in the Community
Imagine that it is the annual zoo field trip at your son’s elementary school. You are very excited to chaperone your first event and spend extra time with your son. You reach out to the school to sign up to…
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Freedom Network Community |
FNUSA Submits Questions for US Confirmation Hearings
Freedom Network USA submitted comments and questions to the Judiciary Committee last week for three nominee confirmation hearings. If approved, these appointees will have a significant impact on how human trafficking is addressed in the United States. Our hope is…
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Freedom Network Community |
Freedom Network USA Welcomes 2017 Class of Associate Members
After an exciting year of growth, Freedom Network USA is ushering in the new year by welcoming 15 new associate members. With a wide range of experience in the anti-trafficking movement, the group will help carry Freedom Network USA’s vision…
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Freedom Network Community |
Visit to the U.S.: United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons
During December 2016, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons (SRT), Ms. Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, visited four U.S. cities to meet with government and local officials, civil society and grassroots organizations. These meetings addressed the successful progress and…
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Freedom Network Community |
Freedom Network USA supports Federal Vacatur Bill
Freedom Network USA will send the following letter of support for Trafficking Survivor Relief Act (S. 3441). FN USA Support Letter S. 3441 We will be accepting sign-ons from organizations and individuals. Sign-on to the letter by December 19, 2017 here. We appreciate…
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Freedom Network Community |
Backpage.com CEO Arrest: A Public Stunt, Not an Anti-Trafficking Effort
As the latest in a multiyear effort to target third party online advertisers, CEO of advertising website backpage.com Carl Ferrer was arrested in October on felony charges of pimping a minor and conspiracy to commit pimping. Mixed messaging from law…
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Freedom Network Community |
Support the Work of Freedom Network USA!
Freedom Network USA had a exceptional year. As 2016 comes to a close we are taking time to reflect on our work and the thousands of survivors served by our members. As the largest anti-trafficking coalition of direct service providers,…
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Freedom Network Community |
Big Win: First Motion Passed in Western New York to Vacate Trafficking Survivors’ Criminal Record
Human trafficking survivors are often convicted of the various crimes that their traffickers force them to commit during their enslavement. The resulting criminal records present on-going barriers to independence and healing as survivors struggle to obtain employment, and free themselves…
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Freedom Network Community |
Trafficking in Persons Report Cites Opportunities and Challenges Ahead: FN Response
On June 30, as part of the US Government’s ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking, the US State Department released its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. The Report is an important barometer that provides global insights and evaluates countries’…
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Freedom Network Community |
Susan French: Pursuing Victim-Centered Prosecutions to help Human Trafficking Survivors
With a successful career dedicated to ending human trafficking, Susan French is an advocate for strategic victim-centered prosecutions. French is a human trafficking civil attorney and expert, formerly a federal prosecutor for 14 years with the U.S. Department of Justice…
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Freedom Network Community |
Freedom Network USA to host Webinar Series on Trauma-Informed Case Management
The Freedom Network USA is offering a practical 4-part training and technical assistance series to case managers and social workers working with trafficking survivors. The series will provide an overview of trauma-informed care and explore areas for implementation throughout the…
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Freedom Network Community |
My Sisters’ Place: Combating Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking
Through its direct counseling services and promotion of social change and community education, My Sisters’ Place (MSP) is a leading advocate for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking in Westchester County, New York. In 1976, the organization formed around…
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Freedom Network Community |
A Closer Look: Amnesty International’s Policy on Decriminalizing Consensual Sex Work
As first discussed in May, global human rights organization Amnesty International has released a policy in response to the high rates of human rights abuses experienced globally by sex workers. Based on two years of in-depth research, the policy calls…
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Freedom Network Community |
FN submits feedback for 2016 Trafficking in Persons Report
Every January the Department of State requests feedback from stakeholders in the anti-trafficking field to prepare its annual Trafficking in Persons Report. As a coalition of direct-service providers, Freedom Network USA members are uniquely situated to advocate for policies that…
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Freedom Network Community |
Freedom Network USA supports Amnesty International’s call to Decriminalize Sex Work
Freedom Network USA released a statement today in support of Amnesty International’s recent call on states to develop policies to decriminalize consensual sex work. The Freedom Network USA believes that decriminalization would protect the rights and safety of all sex…
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Freedom Network Community |
Freedom Network USA releases Member Report
The Freedom Network USA released their 2016 Member Report earlier this month in conjunction the 14th Annual Freedom Network USA Conference in Chicago. The report documents services provided to human trafficking survivors across the United States by our organizational members…
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Freedom Network Community |
FN publishes Op-Ed on changes to guest worker program
FN Executive Director, Jean Bruggeman and Board Member, Dan Werner (SPLC) wrote an opinion piece that ran on The Hill’s website this week. They argue that Congress should reject the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act (S. 2225) rider…
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Freedom Network Community |
FN Submits Amicus Brief in Support of Trafficking Survivors
The Freedom Network with pro bono counsel Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., recently submitted an amicus brief to the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in the Adhikari v. Kellog Brown & Root, Inc. (KBR) case. We urge the Court…
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Freedom Network Community |
Food for Thought from FN Policy Co-Chair; Gonzalo Martinez de Vedia
Beyond the Chains: Tuning Into the Full Spectrum of Human Trafficking A pair of shackled hands. A body branded with a bar code. A woman behind bars. These are the images I have to walk audiences back from at every…