Human Trafficking Research Lab @Millikin

In October we found out that Central Illinois Human Trafficking Task Force was awarded Enhanced Collaborative Model Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime. The Human Trafficking Research Lab was designated as a subgrantee of the grant to be used over the next three years for research on anti-trafficking efforts in 46 central Illinois counties. The Human Trafficking Research Lab, will conduct a community assessment of the Central Illinois Human Trafficking Task Force to determine the characteristics of human trafficking in central Illinois, and demonstrate how the data can be used to strengthen and combat trends in the region. Dean and her students work with the Center for Prevention of Abuse and Illinois State Police on reporting performance data as well as information to help develop a comprehensive understanding of the problem of human trafficking in central Illinois. They also work with the t

    Before I left Latvia I was able to throw a socially distant book reception at my favorite Latvian author Aspazija's house and museum in Riga. The pandemic did not hit Latvia as hard as the United States by July and so I put together a small party to thank everyone who helped me while writing my book and to donate my book to the John F. Kennedy Reading Room at the Latvian National Library. I felt throughout the event that Aspazija was watching over us figuratively and also through the hanging art installations around the room. Latvians also love to give flowers (only odd numbers as even numbers of flowers are given for funerals). I gave a speech in Latvian and English and then people could answer questions and participate in some activities. It was a great send off from my sabbatical in Latvia and also a good way to see people that I didn't get to see most of the time in Latvia due to the pandemic!

I spoke at a Ground Truth Briefing for the Woodrow Wilson Center entitled "A Pandemic of Violence: A Global Discussion of COVID-19 and Gender Based Violence" on what I have seen happening on the ground here with gender-based violence in Eurasia.  As governments around the world impose lockdowns and encourage social distancing to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, a shadow pandemic has emerged. Reports of domestic and intimate-partner violence have spiked, and already femicide rates are rising in some parts of the world. Yet even as the pandemic has increased the incidence of violence, it has simultaneously hampered prevention and protection efforts, including reduced access to law enforcement, social services and healthcare for women.  The recording with me and a panel of experts on global discussion of gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic is available here . 

Dr. Dean's book Diffusing Human Trafficking Policy in Eurasia was release by Policy Press at the University of Bristol on May 14, 2020. Offering a perceptive study of the urgent human rights issue of trafficking in persons, this important book analyses the development and effectiveness of public policies across Eurasia. Drawing on multi-method research in the region, Laura A. Dean explores the factors behind anti-trafficking strategies and the role of governments and activists in combating labour and sexual exploitation. She examines the intersection of global strategies and state-by-state approaches, and uses the diffusion of innovation framework to cast new light on the impetus and implementation of different policy typologies. Identifying the strengths, weaknesses, and best practices in human trafficking policies around Eurasia, Dean’s book will appeal to a wide range of students, scholars, practitioners, and policy makers. Spoke about it on the News Books Network for Russia and

Sadly most of my book tour was cancelled due to Covid-19 and the pandemic but I was still able to record a podcast that I had planned to be on from my apartment in Latvia. I was featured on Episode 3 of Series 5 of the Rights Track podcast entitled “Strengthening laws and ending modern slavery: what connects SDGs 16 and 8.7?” which is the most prestigious podcast on human trafficking in the world. I was interviewed by Dr. Todd Landman Vice Chancellor for the Faculty of Social Sciences and Rights Lab Executive Director at the University of Nottingham at the University of Nottingham in the UK. We discussed the intersection between meeting Sustainable Development Goals SDG 8.7 aiming to end modern slavery and SDG 16 which aims to end violence and strengthen the rule of law and governance.  You can listen to the podcast episode here . 

Spring 2020 I am on sabbatical in Latvia conducting research for a new project on gender and politics in the Saeima (the Latvian parliament). One of the reasons that I pushed to get my book published while I am in Latvia on sabbatical is to be able to travel around to speak about it and donate books to the people who helped me. I will be giving a number of public lectures on my book in Lithuania, the United Kingdom and Ukraine. I am also planning a book release in Latvia at the JFK room of the Latvian National Library in June (more details on that later). Looking forward to an exciting semester of traveling and sharing my book with people around the world.   

The Human Trafficking Research Lab partnered with Set Free Macon County to host the third annual panel discussion for Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January 2020 entitled “Unlocking Human Trafficking in Supply Chains.” The panel discussion focused on how business professionals can recognize signs of human trafficking in business supply chains and develop action plans for locating and eradicating human trafficking.  It featured local business experts including John Yotter, Instructor at the Tabor School of Business and Process Excellence and Production Systems at Caterpillar Inc., Brian Barstead, Past District Governor Rotary District 6460 and Certified Financial Planner with Ameriprise Financial Services Inc., and Leanne M. Mull, Co-Director of Blue Tower Solutions, Inc.  The event was attended by approximately 30 people including some of my students from my human trafficking class. It was also featured in a number of media outlets including WAND and the Herald and Review .  

As part of Human Trafficking Awareness Month the Human Trafficking Research Lab was invited to the Decatur City Council meeting together with the Set Free Macon County team. The proclamation for human trafficking awareness month was read and signed by the Mayor. Another a great opportunity to raise awareness to human trafficking in our community!