Dozens of area residents attended a moving and informative presentation entitled “The Human Cost of Human Trafficking” at the Degenstein Library.
The presenter was Alex Skitolsky, a member of the Transitions Human Trafficking Outreach Team. A trained theatre artist, Skitolsky engaged the group with role-playing and thought experiments to help participants better understand the experiences of trafficked victims and bring attention to the many ways unsuspecting individuals can be lured into a criminal underworld.
“Human Trafficking is a modern day form of slavery,” asserted Skitolsky. He explained that victims can either be brought in from another country or are already American citizens, often times teenage runaways, who find themselves in perpetual and indentured servitude, performing labor, sexual work or participating in illegal drug-related activities.
Skitolsky’s presentation also provided attendees with suggestions on how to reach out to individuals who may be victims of trafficking and provided an important hotline for victims or those who are trying to help: 888.373.7888.
In 2014, Pennsylvania’s General Assembly passed bi-partisan legislation that offers additional protections to trafficked victims. Proposed legislation by Senator Greenleaf will improve upon this legislation, providing funding for training of law enforcement agencies. The legislation will also safeguard, rather than criminalize, minors forced into criminal trafficking enterprises.
Transitions is a crisis center that provides advocacy, empowerment, and education to victims, survivors, families, and communities to end patterns of violence and abuse. According to CEO Susan Mathias, “Transitions has been part of the effort to provide services to human trafficking victims. We have served 44 victims in the last two years and are beginning to see convictions for traffickers under the law that was passed in 2014.”
Learn more about Transitions at transitionsofpa.org.
This program was offered by the Susquehanna Valley Progressives, a nonpartisan organization united for the betterment of the whole community through engagement in the democratic process; promotion of equality and diversity; improving working and living standards and protecting our natural world. Learn more at SVprogress.org.