President Obama Speaks Out Against Human Trafficking

 

Keisha Head, Sexual Slavery Survivor

Sister Keisha Head is a survivor.  She once was a victim of human trafficking, but now is an advocate for others trapped in modern day enslavement.  She speak out now to educate us about this scourge in our society that is largely unchallenged.  Unfortunately too many of us have no true understanding of the magnitude of the human trafficking industry worldwide.  Then there are those of us who believe it is something that is mainly happening overseas, and doesn't really affect us in the west.  Thank God for Keisha being bold and willing to tell her story.  A story of what is happening right in our backyards, and not just in the inner cities.

Watch How to Stop the Candy Shop on PBS. See more from PBA Specials.

Because of her passion and dedication, she was awarded the Paul Howard Voices for Victims award by the Fulton County District Attorney's office.  She and Stacy Lewis presented a segment on professional speaking and interviewing to survivors and advocates for survivors of sex trafficking. In regards to what she does to educate, Keisha has stated: 

“I am not a survivor because I escaped something horrific,”  “I am a survivor because I allowed my pain and losses to transform me into God's instrument of greatness.”  She has worked with a number of organizations, includeing Polaris Project, the Boys and Girls Club, Juvenile Justice Fund, the Law and Society Association and Job Corp.

In April 2012, Keisha stood with other survivors to deliver closing remarks at the U.S. Department of Justice Trafficking in Persons Symposium in Salt Lake City, UT.

“I was very angry, shy, and withdrawn,” said Keisha, “I used to call myself unlovable - I felt like I was different from my peers.”
Keisha was born in Atlanta Georgia.  Her homelife was unstable because her mother suffered from schizophrenia and couldn't care for her.  Keisha's mother cannot recall who Keisha's father is due to her mental disease.  For that reason Keisha doesn't know who he is either. 

Keisha was removed from her mother's home when she was 12 years old and has gone through many foster homes and group homes.  She ran away often because she never felt love from any of the people she was placed with.  By the time she was 16 years old, Keisha was a mother with a newborn baby.  She of course was forced to give away custody to her boyfriend's family since she was unable to care for the child.   She dealt with the pain by running away from child protective services.

Having no place to go, she turned to a childhood friend who thought she could help her.  Keisha's childhood church friend introduced her to Charles Pipkins, a pimp known as "Sir Charles".  At this point, the nightmare began for Keisha.


http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/speaking-out/2012/aug/8/interview-with-keisha-head/

Legal Needs of Human Trafficking Survivors - Polaris Project

Legal Needs of Human Trafficking Survivors | Polaris Project

Polaris Project | National Human Trafficking Resource Center | 1-888-373-7888 | NHTRC@PolarisProject.org www.PolarisProject.org © Copyright Polaris Project, 2012. All Rights Reserved This publication was made possible in part through Grant Number 90XR0012/02 from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, Office of Refugee Resettlement, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Anti- Trafficking in Persons Division, Office of Refugee Resettlement, or HHS.





Legal Needs of Human Trafficking Survivors

This document provides a list of legal and related issues that may affect human trafficking survivors. Legal providers should be aware of these diverse needs and develop plans to help survivors address them. This list is not meant to be comprehensive, but rather a starting point for understanding the issues faced by survivors of trafficking. Underlined items are designated by Polaris Project Client Services as of particular interest to US Citizen survivors requiring legal assistance.

Family Law

1. Custody and visitation
2. Divorce
3. Securing access to child support
4. Child abduction/concealment
5. Child abuse and neglect
6. Domestic violence
7. Orders of protection/restraining orders

Benefit

1. Access to public benefits (Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, State-level benefits)
2. Access to crime victim compensation
3. Certification or letter of eligibility*
4. Assistance vacating convictions (e.g., for prostitution) that complicate eligibility for benefits

*May also fall under immigration-related needs.

Employment

1. Back wages
2. Occupational safety and health violations
3. Sexual harassment or discrimination
4. Equal employment opportunity violations
5. Unemployment benefits

Criminal Justice Advocacy

     1. Advocacy within criminal justice system for victims of crime
     2. Legal representation for survivors who are incarcerated
     3. Representing trafficking victims as defendants charged with prostitution and related crimes
     4. Vacating prostitution-related convictions





Civil Litigation

1. Various tort claims against traffickers, those who aid and abet trafficking
2. Civil damages
3. Restitution

Housing

1.  Access to public or subsidized housing
2.   If in public housing, negotiating transferring to a safer facility
3.  Negotiating with a private landlord to change leasing arrangements

Legal Needs of Survivors of Trafficking | Polaris Project

Polaris Project

| National Human Trafficking Resource Center | 1-888-373-7888 | NHTRC@PolarisProject.org www.PolarisProject.org © Copyright Polaris Project, 2012. All Rights Reserved

Immigration

1. T-Visa, U-Visa or VAWA Self-Petition
2. Adjustment to permanent resident status
3. Derivative visa for family members
4. Asylum
5. Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (also Child-Specific)

Child-Specific

1. Court-Appointed Special Advocate or Guardian ad Litem
2. Use of Safe Harbor laws
3. Emancipation or Advocacy within Child Welfare System (for minors exploited by a parent or guardian)

Tax-Related

1. Tax exemption for criminal restitution
2. Tax exemption for civil damage awards

Class Actions

1.  Relief for similarly situated victims