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This Empower U will shine a spotlight on a most troubling subject and little known epidemic, Human Trafficking. Most think of human trafficking as a third-world-country problem. If we think close to home at all, border states come to mind. This seminar will confirm that, yes, this is a problem in third world countries, but also a problem right in our own communities.
Human Trafficking is an estimated multi-billion dollar a year enterprise that forces the most vulnerable among us into the horrors of modern-day slavery. Criminals involved in trafficking prey upon those already at risk in the U.S. and numerous countries around the world.
On an international level there are fifty-one million children born who on paper do not exist. Most of these children are girls and this lack of documentation allows them to be easily sold into early marriage, slave labor or sex trafficking. As chairman of the House Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, Congressman Steve Chabot has introduced bipartisan legislation called the Girls Count Act, which will help combat this growing problem by authorizing the United States to work with other countries and faith-based organizations to implement national registries for children in developing countries. Congressman Chabot will share his insights and efforts on this critical situation.
Melinda Haggerty of the Ohio Attorney General's office will give us insight into how this problem is impacting our communities. A preliminary report on this problem in Ohio cited 13 years old as the most common age in Ohio for youth to become victims of child sex trafficking. To combat this problem, Attorney General Mike DeWine reconvened the Human Trafficking Commission in 2011. They work to understand the extent of the problem, find ways to help victims and prosecute traffickers. Melinda will discuss the problem in Ohio and detail the combined efforts at the State and local level to combat this epidemic.
Rep. Steve Chabot has proudly served Ohio's First Congressional District for 17 years. A lifelong Cincinnatian, Steve previously served as a Cincinnati City Councilman and Hamilton County Commissioner for four years each prior to being elected to Congress in 1994.
Since becoming a Member of Congress, Steve has served on the Committee of the Judiciary, the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. He was named to the role of Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific in 2013, after previously serving as the Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee from 2011-2012. Steve also served as Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution from 2001-2006 and as Ranking Member on the House Committee on Small Business from 2007-2008.
Steve has taken his passion to fight wasteful government spending to Congress, becoming one of the leading advocates for fiscal responsibility. Steve has consistently voted to eliminate wasteful spending and reduce the excessive tax burden on hard-working Americans. Nonpartisan taxpayer advocacy groups such as Citizens Against Government Waste, the Concord Coalition and the National Taxpayers Union have time and again rated Steve as one of the most pro-taxpayer members of Congress.
Steve has also helped lead efforts to pass product liability reform measures and toughen anti-drug laws. He is an outspoken defender of the rights of the unborn, most importantly having authored the ban on the practice of Partial-Birth Abortions.
In January 1999, Steve served as one of 12 House Managers during the Senate impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, where he received praise for his even-handed and thoughtful approach to the trial.
Steve Chabot
Melinda Haggerty is the Director of Children's Initiatives for Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. In her role at the Attorney General's Office, Melinda spends a great deal of time on child welfare, juvenile justice, and human trafficking issues. Melinda facilitates the Ohio Attorney General's Human Trafficking Commission and co-chairs the Juvenile Justice subcommittee of the Attorney General's Taskforce on Criminal Justice and Mental Illness. Melinda received her bachelor's degree in English from the Ohio State University in 2007 and went on to earn her law degree from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 2010.
Melinda gets her passion for children honestly. As a former foster child, Melinda has a first-hand understanding of the child welfare and juvenile justice systems that help inform her child advocacy role at the Attorney General's Office. Though Melinda previously clerked at a Columbus law firm, representing various county government agencies, it was her devotion to children's issues that led her back into public service.
Melinda Haggerty
"Human Trafficking on the International, National, and State Level" is Virtual Class on www.InstantPresenter.com or you may attend the actual class at The Farm. The codes for participating in this class on-line from your home will be posted on www.empoweruohio.org 6 hours before the class begins. We are limited to the first 100 people logging on to this class so sign-on early.
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