The National State Attorneys General Program at Columbia Law School is dedicated to supporting state attorneys general as they tackle the persistent and complex problem of human trafficking. The ability of attorneys general to work with federal, state and local prosecutors and policy makers gives them a unique role in prosecuting human traffickers, assisting trafficking victims and developing state based policies. As the premier legal research, education-and-policy center examining the implications of the jurisprudence of state attorneys general, the Program will work closely with attorneys general, their staff, and advocates who seek to address the trafficking issue. This site will be used to disseminate legal information that state attorneys general can use in combating human trafficking.
National Association of Attorneys General Urges Congress to Act (November 2, 2012)
Forty-six attorneys general sent an open letter to Congress asking that the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) be passed before the end of the year. A copy of the letter can be found here and more information on TVPRA can be found here.
Attorneys General of Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New Hampshire Discuss Human Trafficking on Podcast. (November 10, 2011)
Attorneys General Pam Bondi of Florida, Martha Coakley of Massachusetts, Mike Delaney of New Hampshire, Paula Dow of New Jersey, George Jepsen of Connecticut, Eric Schneiderman of New York, and Bill Sorrell of Vermont were among a diverse group of state and federal officials and members of the advocacy and academic communities who convened at Columbia Law School on October 21 for the Eastern Region Meeting on Human Trafficking, sponsored by the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG).
Podcast with Attorney Generals Martha Coakley, Mike Delaney and George Jepsen
U.S. Ambassador Luis CdeBaca Addresses NAAG Meeting on Human Trafficking at Columbia Law (October 17, 2011)
The National State Attorneys General Program hosted a forum on human trafficking featuring Ambassador Luis CdeBaca, director of the U.S. State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Attorneys General of seven states (New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont) attended the Oct. 21 event along with senior staff from another dozen offices of attorneys general.
The State Department estimates 800,000 people are trafficked across borders into forced labor and prostitution every year, while one million children are involved in the global sex trade. Other government figures indicate as many as 17,500 persons may be trafficked into the U.S. annually.
Prior to remarks by Ambassador CdeBaca, state and federal officials examined and discussed various strategies for addressing human trafficking.
AG Program Holds Forum, Releases Podcasts on Human Trafficking as NAAG Announces New National Initiative (June 22, 2011)
The National State Attorneys General Program, in conjunction with the National Attorneys General Training & Research Institute (NAGTRI), hosted a forum for a group of 20 international criminal prosecutors and recorded podcasts on the subject of human trafficking. “The goal of this program is to respond to the shrinking world that we have in which cross-border relationships in the law enforcement arena are becoming increasingly important,” said NAGTRI Director Chris Toth in an interview with Program Director James E. Tierney for the AG Program Podcast. “We’re building relationships; we’re bringing people together to collaborate on a common problem.”
National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) President Rob McKenna, the Attorney General of Washington, announced at the NAAG Summer Meeting in Chicago a nationwide initiative amongst offices of state attorneys general intended to combat human trafficking. Tierney, who delivered a presentation on ethics to the conference, was in attendance at the meeting along with Program Counsel Cindy Lott and Shelley Mayer.
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