While Human Trafficking seems like something that only happens on the

latest episode of Law & Order: SVU, the reality is that it is happening here in
Milwaukee, and it is on the rise. This is troubling to say the least. In an effort
to raise awareness and promote action, Alverno is hosting a Human
Trafficking Forum on April 24th.
Milwaukee has become a hub for human trafficking and its important for
not only residents, but for the public in general to recognize trafficking, its
indicators, and the risks. Amy Shapiro, Professor of Psychology and CoDirector of Womens and Gender Studies, states, women and children are
at special risk of being trafficked for sexual and domestic purposes in
particular. But anyone can be trafficked and for a wide range of reasons-sexual and domestic services, slavery, organs, military. It seems to me that
human trafficking is a symptom of attitudes that are fostered in patriarchal
and androcentric communities because it represents an impoverished view
of humanity, where humans are seen as commodities and women and
children in particular are exchanged for goods and services. It turns out that
Milwaukee is a center for human trafficking and I think we need to
understand why.
According to the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA), human
trafficking is the second largest and fastest growing criminal industry,
worldwide. In Wisconsin, people are primarily sold for the purposes of sexual
exploitation or labor. Both domestic and foreign victims of human trafficking
have been found in urban and rural communities within our state.
With a topic as serious as human trafficking, it may be difficult for some to
accept that it is a real problem. It may be hard to accept that this is
happening in communities surrounding a campus like Alvernos. That is
exactly why it is so important to attend a forum such as this- to gain the
knowledge necessary to combat such a terrifying issue.
Shapiro went on to explain, Because Milwaukee is a center for human
trafficking one of the outcomes we have for the Forum is to better
understand why. The hope is that when people leave the program they will
be better equipped to recognize trafficking and have strategies with which to
respond to it, for instance, know who to contact. The evening will be a
mixture of panel, small group discussion facilitated by WGS and Global
Studies students, discussion and interaction with panel participants, and
strategizing for action. Anyone can attend and it is free and open to the
public.
Other individuals on the panel include Rachel Monaco-Wilcox, JD, Chair and
Assistant Professor at Mount Mary College, Dr. Sebastian Ssempijja, PhD,

Psychologist, Karine Moreno Taxman, JD, Assistant U.S. Attorney, and Dana
World-Patterson, Chair, Human Trafficking Taskforce of Greater Milwaukee.
With such a wide-range of views, opinions, and expertise, this Forum is sure
to be enlightening. The ultimate goal of the Forum is to help form
connections, educate, and empower. By being able to recognize the signs of
human trafficking in your community, you are able to take appropriate
action, notify the correct authorities, and make a difference.