DISCOVERY


A crucial advocate


Katherine Kaufka Walts’s research aims to help victims of human trafficking


“Victims of human trafficking, a form of modern- day slavery, are deprived of the most basic human right: the right to freedom.”


T


hus reads the introduction to one of the research projects currently underway by Katherine Kaufka Walts, JD, director of Loyola’s Center for the


Human Rights of Children. An expert on human trafficking issues, Kaufka Walts is working to ad- vocate for trafficking survivors both in Chicago and abroad. What human trafficking is, in the simplest


terms, is moving, recruiting, or harboring someone for forced labor or sexual exploita- tion by force, fraud, or coercion. Both citizens and immigrants can be trafficked in the United States. Compared to other large metropolitan areas, Cook County has been far less successful in prosecuting human trafficking cases. In response, Kaufka Walts is looking at best


practices and case profiles in other similarly sized counties, with an emphasis on cases involv- ing children and youth. She hopes to use the results of her research to create targeted training and advocacy programs for law enforcement, social service agencies, and community-based organizations.“While there are state and federal laws in place, there are still significant systemic gaps in their implementation, particularly with children,” says Kaufka Walts. One of many factors complicating the pros- ecution of human trafficking is that the crime


KEY NUMBERS


From the 10th annual Trafficking in Persons Report 2010


12.3million 28 LOYOLA MAGAZINE


Katherine Kaufka Walts, JD, director of Loyola’s Center for the Human Rights of Children, has worked for years as an attorney on behalf of trafficking victims. She helped draft the Illinois legislation on the subject.


is often confused with, or occurring along with, other, more easily identified crimes. Kaufka Walts has worked for years as an


attorney on behalf of trafficking victims. She helped draft the Illinois legislation on the subject in 2005 and has testified before the U.S. Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights on ways to improve federal legislation to assist survivors of trafficking, especially children. “I’ve represented young girls who were


domestic servants-household slaves, children working 12–14 hour days in restaurants, as well as youth found in brothels during law enforcement


NUMBER OF ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN FORCED LABOR, BONDED LABOR, AND FORCED PROSTITUTION WORLDWIDE


$ 32billion


raids,” she says. If properly identified and pro- vided competent advocacy, these children are able to receive special legal protections, access recovery services such as foster care, and attend school. “My best days as an attorney were when I would receive calls from clients that had nothing to do with their case, like, ‘Guess what, I got a B-plus on a test!’ or ’I just made the basketball team!’ or ‘I just went to a slumber party,’” Kaufka Walts says. “It’s hearing that they have a normal life—the life they were supposed to have.” Kaufka Walts, who has previously worked on international human trafficking issues in Latvia,


AMOUNT COLLECTED ANNUALLY BY HUMAN TRAFFICKERS


0.4 %


RATIO OF VICTIMS IDENTIFIED TO


ESTIMATED VICTIMS, AS A PERCENTAGE


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