Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery that has affected millions of people worldwide. While most nations condemn the practice, and many have instituted policies to prevent and punish trafficking, many survivors of trafficking are unable to get the help and protection they need. Trafficked persons who are returned to their home countries face the threat of re-trafficking, and women who have been trafficked for forced prostitution face the additional threat of punishment or ostracism by their families or communities.

Many trafficked persons have tried to claim asylum in the United States, but courts have been unwilling to recognize that trafficking constitutes persecution under our gender-based asylum precedent, or that trafficked persons may have valid social group claims. Human Rights USA is fighting to establish the principle that survivors of trafficking are eligible for asylum. As part of that fight, we are reaching out to immigration practitioners to share strategies and offer assistance so that more and more survivors of trafficking will be able to receive the protection they deserve.

The workshop is a one day training session for attorneys on how to handle asylum cases for people fleeing human trafficking and forced marriage. The training will cover topics such as: recognizing trafficked persons, working with survivors of trauma, forms of relief available to trafficked persons, building a gender-based asylum case, unique legal issues in gender-based asylum cases, and using established precedent to argue a cutting-edge claim.

Workshop speakers are from Human Rights USA, the Door, Polaris Project, Sanctuary for Families, and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. There is no charge for attendance. Lunch will be provided.

Please RSVP to: Lgott@humanrightsusa.org