Symposium on human slavery continues with program by former congresswoman

As part of its Human Slavery Symposium Series, Florida Gulf Coast University presents "Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking - Identification and Response to the Victims" from 8:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, July 30, at the Sugden Welcome Center on the campus at FGCU. The program is free and open to the public.

The Human Trafficking Symposium program is a series of continuing education programs offering practical guidelines for practitioners and the public seeking an in-depth understanding of issues and actions related to human trafficking.

The July 30 presenter is founder and president of Shared Hope International and former U.S. Congresswoman Linda Smith.

While still a member of Congress, Ms. Smith traveled to Falkland Road in Mumbai, India. The hopeless faces of desperate woman and children forced into prostitution compelled her to found Shared Hope International. To build momentum in the international anti-trafficking movement, she founded the War Against Trafficking Alliance in January 2001. WATA coordinates both regional and international efforts necessary to combat sex trafficking.

In February 2003, WATA co-sponsored a World Summit with the U.S. Department of State, which brought together non-government and government leaders from 114 nations, all demonstrating a sustained commitment to prosecuting trafficking, providing assistance to victims and building regional strategies to protect the vulnerable from the sex trade.

Ms. Smith's presentation at FGCU for the Human Trafficking Symposium

Series is designed to help participants:

• Understand the scope of the problem of child sex trafficking

• Identify the victims of domestic minor sex trafficking

• Know what steps are required next in the organized response to domestic minor sex trafficking

Participants who are nurses, ARNPs, clinical nurse specialists, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors can earn two contact hours provided by Florida Gulf Coast University, Division of Continuing Education and Off-Campus Programs.

The symposium series is presented by the FGCU Division of Justice Studies, in collaboration with Continuing Education and Off-Campus Programs and in partnership with the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

For registration information, visit http://registerCE.fgcu.edu or call Continuing Education and Off-Campus Programs at 590-1095.