Professor Mary Graw Leary, of Catholic Law and the Bakhita Initiative for the Study and Disruption of Modern Day Slavery, recently participated in a thought-provoking panel discussion titled "Religion and Foreign Policy Webinar: Combating Human Trafficking," hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Moderated by Rachel B. Vogelstein, Associate Professor of Professional Practice and Director of the Women’s Initiative at Columbia University’s Institute of Global Politics, the webinar brought together a distinguished group of experts to address the global crisis of human trafficking, which affects an estimated 40 million people worldwide. Professor Graw Leary emphasized the systemic challenges in combating trafficking, including the decline in funding for anti-trafficking initiatives across U.S. government departments, and the need for a comprehensive, interdepartmental approach to address this pervasive issue. She also cautioned against allowing high-profile cases, such as Jeffrey Epstein’s, to overshadow the broader systemic failures that perpetuate exploitation.
The panel also featured Dr. Shadi Kourosh, Associate Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School and a CFR member, who shared her work in founding a pro bono tattoo removal clinic to assist trafficking survivors. Dr. Kourosh highlighted the critical role of trauma-informed care and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address the medical and psychological needs of survivors. Rabbi Diana S. Gerson, Associate Executive Vice President of the New York Board of Rabbis, underscored the importance of creating a "protective ecosystem" that involves schools, faith communities, healthcare providers, and tech platforms to safeguard children, particularly in the digital age. Both panelists stressed the importance of cross-sector partnerships and survivor-informed strategies to effectively combat trafficking and support victims.
The discussion also explored the dual role of technology in both enabling trafficking and offering tools for prevention and education. The panelists called for stronger regulations on tech companies, survivor-informed platform designs, and increased digital literacy to mitigate risks. They emphasized the need for sustained education, survivor leadership, and community collaboration to disrupt the low-risk, high-reward nature of trafficking. The conversation concluded with a call to action for policymakers, faith leaders, and the private sector to work together in addressing this human rights abuse, ensuring that anti-trafficking efforts are both comprehensive and sustainable.
A recording of the discussion is below.