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Students Present Human Trafficking Research
12/3/2010
 University of St. Thomas students in the Center for International Studies embarked on an ambitious service learning project this semester to study the issue of human trafficking in the Houston area. The students then presented their research report and made policy recommendations to the Harris County Attorney’s Office on Monday, Nov. 29.
International studies major Dehua Lea and Master in Liberal Arts students Jodi Mahardi, Katrina Moore, and Damien Treshman participated in the project for their course in International Organizations and Global Governance taught by Dr. Nivien Saleh, assistant professor of international studies. In the course, students learn how international organizations help create and enforce international law. This semester, the course examined how the United Nations upholds a global human rights framework, how the World Trade Organization mediates international trade disputes, and how the World Bank provides loans and development assistance.
Houston is a major hub for smuggling humans against their will and forcing them into bondage and prostitution. After receiving an introduction to the problem by Linda Geffin, Harris County Attorney’s Chief of Special Prosecutions, the four students rolled back their sleeves. Over the course of the semester, they analyzed both federal and state legislation and inquired into local efforts to combat this modern form of slavery.
Their goal was to prepare a resource that the Harris County Attorney could use to train law enforcement officers and to provide recommendations for enhancing the anti-trafficking work of local government. After three months of labor, the students paid a visit to Chief of Special Prosecutions Linda Geffin to present their findings.
“Their report was professional, knowledgeable, and comprehensive,” Saleh said. “Geffin was impressed by the students’ diligence and suggested that she would implement some of the report’s recommendations right away. The students not only earned college credit, but they had become experts on a significant political issue and provided an excellent contribution to bringing human rights from the global down to the local level.”
From left to right: Dr. Nivien Saleh, Katrina Moore, Linda Geffin, Chief, Special Prosecutions, Harris County Attorney, Dehua Lea, BA in International Studies, Damien Treshman MLA candidate, Jodi Mahardi.
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