Charting a Course to Freedom
Join this webinar to learn how human trafficking affects the maritime industry and what your port can do to combat this crime in Washington.
March 24th from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm PDT
This FREE event, brought to you in collaboration with the Washington State Office of the Attorney General, is a unique opportunity to learn from experts who specialize in human trafficking prevention. People often associate human trafficking with container ships; the realities of sexual exploitation and forced labor in the U.S. are far more complex. Human trafficking impacts industries as diverse as restaurants and cruise ships, hotels and fishing vessels, merchant ships and cargo services. By attending this webinar, you will gain a new understanding of human trafficking, how it impacts the maritime industry, and how you can maintain an environment free of exploitation. You will be provided with practical steps and resources to join with local maritime leaders to prevent exploitation and assist unseen victims in our midst.
"I strongly encourage all of the maritime industry to join this initiative, so together we can end trafficking."
- CAPT John Veentjer (USCG Retired), Executive Director, Marine Exchange of Puget Sound
Join this webinar to learn how human trafficking affects the maritime industry and what your port can do to combat this crime in Washington.
March 24th from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm PDT
This FREE event, brought to you in collaboration with the Washington State Office of the Attorney General, is a unique opportunity to learn from experts who specialize in human trafficking prevention. People often associate human trafficking with container ships; the realities of sexual exploitation and forced labor in the U.S. are far more complex. Human trafficking impacts industries as diverse as restaurants and cruise ships, hotels and fishing vessels, merchant ships and cargo services. By attending this webinar, you will gain a new understanding of human trafficking, how it impacts the maritime industry, and how you can maintain an environment free of exploitation. You will be provided with practical steps and resources to join with local maritime leaders to prevent exploitation and assist unseen victims in our midst.
"I strongly encourage all of the maritime industry to join this initiative, so together we can end trafficking."
- CAPT John Veentjer (USCG Retired), Executive Director, Marine Exchange of Puget Sound
Audience
This webinar is for Port leaders throughout Washington State, including executives in the maritime industry, and unions representing seafarers, transport workers, and longshore workers.
Learning Objectives
- Learn how human trafficking operates in the U.S. and how it intersects with the maritime industry
- Gain access to new resources that can benefit your organization as well as vulnerable people in your community
- Learn concrete steps and take-aways your organization can implement at your port to join with your broader port community
Speakers
Kyle Wood - Assistant Attorney General, Anti-Human Trafficking and Anti-Child Exploitation Coordinator, Washington State Office of the Attorney General
Kyle Wood leads Bob Ferguson's statewide efforts to combat human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children by prosecuting human trafficking cases, working to increase collaboration between police and service providers, and advising the Attorney General on policy issues related to human trafficking. He convenes, on behalf of the Attorney General, the Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Statewide Coordinating Committee. Before joining the Attorney General's Office, Kyle worked as a deputy prosecuting attorney at the King County Prosecutor's Office in Seattle and as an international criminal prosecutor for the United Nations in The Hague, Netherlands.
Sam Cho - Commissioner, Port of Seattle
Sam Cho was elected to the Port of Seattle Commission in 2019, and he was the Founder and CEO of Seven Seas Export, an international trading company that was headquartered in Seattle and exported to Asia. One of his priorities as a commissioner is stopping human trafficking. Commissioner Cho was also a political appointee under President Barack Obama serving at the U.S. General Services Administration.
Mar Brettmann - CEO, Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST)
Mar Brettmann, PhD, is the CEO and founder of the nonprofit organization, Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST). She has taught human trafficking awareness and prevention training for 10 years. Mar educates business leaders and provides them with tools to implement socially responsible strategies that prevent human trafficking.
About BEST
BEST is a nonprofit organization that has gained national recognition for our success in using the power of business to prevent human trafficking. BEST offers online human trafficking prevention training in a multitude of industries, including the maritime industry. Current partners of BEST include the Port of Seattle, Port of Everett, Port of Tacoma, and Port of Palm Beach.
FAQs
Is this a virtual event?
Yes, this event will be facilitated virtually.
When will I receive the log-in information?
Participants will receive a link to join the morning of the webinar via email. If you do not receive the link, please email info@bestalliance.org.
How can I contact the organizer with additional questions?
Please email info@bestalliance.org for any additional questions.