Hope for Justice briefs White House on modern slavery

Hope for Justice was invited to the White House to brief the President and his officials in person about human trafficking and modern slavery, the need for more federal resources to be devoted to this crime, and our specific recommendations on policy changes to help victims and deter traffickers.

At the briefing in the Roosevelt Room, attended by Hope for Justice US Program Director Dave Rogers and International Program Operations Director Athena Pond, the President said: “I am prepared to bring the full force and weight of our government to the federal and at the federal level, and the other highest levels, whatever we can do, in order to solve this horrific problem.”

Photo credit: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Photo credit: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Addressing Hope for Justice and other groups in the room dedicated to ending human trafficking, the President added: “Government can be helpful, but without you, nothing would happen.  So, again, I want to thank everybody in this room.

“We’re going to bring it out into the open and hopefully we’re going to do a great deal to help prevent some of the horrific – really horrific – crimes that are taking place.”

Hope for Justice CEO, Ben Cooley, said: “Ending modern slavery and human trafficking can’t be done alone. We need governments around the world to work with us, devoting their full powers to prosecuting traffickers and supporting victims.

“We were pleased to be able to brief the President at the White House alongside colleagues from across the abolitionist movement. Following the recent passage of the End Modern Slavery Initiative, it’s good to see this issue becoming a national priority in the United States.”

US Programme Director, Dave Rogers, said: “Hope for Justice was humbled and honored by the invitation to participate in discussions with President Trump and so many experts about human trafficking. We are encouraged he is making this a priority so early in his administration. We look forward to continuing to engage with the administration to positively impact the lives of people trapped in such horrendous conditions.”

After the meeting, the President shared this photo taken in the Oval Office, featuring Hope for Justice’s Athena Pond and Dave Rogers: