“[F]uture success in eradicating human trafficking, in its many forms, will depend on how countries and societies are prepared for, and equipped to, harness technology in their responses.”
– United Nations (UN)
Why is #TechtoConnect important? Technology’s central role in fighting human trafficking is being recognized with the UN theme “The Use and Abuse of Technology” for #WorldDayAgainstTrafficking. ALIGHT is unique in using technology to support victims and survivors to connect them to specialized, pro bono legal representation when they need it. That is how we can leverage the power of legal networks – including our exciting new partnership with Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner – to help survivors at scale. Join the ALIGHT Board to further this mission.
There are many other ways that technology is “used” – from artificial intelligence and facial recognition to data aggregation and analysis (read more in Human Trafficking and Technology: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities). Many of these applications focus on the investigation and prosecution of the traffickers, rather than on the immediate needs of the victims and survivors.
To go up against our reality where traffickers “abuse” technology to manipulate people, information and money to their advantage, it is clear that anti-trafficking efforts must be quicker, smarter and more effective.
Follow ALIGHT on social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram) for more on how we use #TechtoConnect.
| ALIGHT leverages technology and legal networks to impact survivors at scale by mobilizing specialized pro bono attorneys who provide trauma-informed services directly to survivors in our community. |
APPLY TO ALIGHT’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Does our mission speak to you? ALIGHT is looking for passionate professionals interested to join our board. Learn more about the position and its requirements, then write to us at connect@alightnet.org.
LAW FIRM PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT
ALIGHT is pleased to announce our new Pro Bono Initiative with the international law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP) to engage its attorneys in pro bono service. With over 1,400 attorneys across 31 offices, BCLP covers a broad range of legal expertise while practicing a “one firm” model where attorneys collaborate to enhance the quality of service. ALIGHT looks forward to working with attorneys in multiple offices, including in Irvine, San Francisco, Phoenix, Kansas City, Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs, to fight for the rights of the most vulnerable. Thank you for your dedication to supporting human trafficking survivors with trauma-informed client service!
NATIONAL SURVIVOR LAW COLLECTIVE
Following on the pivotal research in the 2021 Legal Deserts Report, ALIGHT and The National Survivor Law Collective (NSL Collective) continued our work by diving deeper into the issues uncovered in this research. In response to the findings, in Fall 2021 and Spring 2022, we convened a diverse cohort of stakeholders from the anti-trafficking movement in three sessions. The NSL Collective led a discussion on the current obstacles to comprehensive legal services for survivors of all forms of human trafficking and the root causes of the challenges that survivors face, along with solutions and opportunities to overcome these challenges.
The work on the “Legal Deserts 2.0 Report” continues. We look forward to sharing this comprehensive overview of the findings and discussions from these meetings with the goal of empowering practitioners, funders and members of the public to better understand and mitigate the obstacles that exist for survivors seeking legal services.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
On June 7, 2022, ALIGHT was honored to participate along with distinguished panelists Judge (ret.) Mary McDonough, Bekah Charleston and Liam Riley. Moderated by Mitha Choudhury, this panel addressed how many survivors face criminalization, the ongoing impacts of criminalization on their lives and the urgent need for enhanced criminal record relief in many states. Ms. Charleston spoke powerfully of how criminal records had affected her life for years and how, after many years of fighting a 2006 conviction for conspiracy to commit tax evasion caused by her trafficking, she secured a presidential pardon the day before Christmas. Ms. Charleston has since gone on to co-found a Nevada-based legal services organization, with whom ALIGHT works closely.
THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS
Thanks to the incredible support of The Crocker Catalyst Foundation, ALIGHT has been able to expand our support of human trafficking survivors in the Mountain State Region. We were specifically able to build out legal capacity in Utah. We are honored to be featured as a “signature program” of the Utah State Bar in their 2021 Annual Report. In June 2022, ALIGHT worked with the Utah State Bar Young Lawyers’ Division to train 255 attorneys on trauma-informed legal services.
ALIGHT is grateful for the years of support from The Haris Block Foundation for trauma-informed and culturally-competent services. This partnership has enabled us to continue our work in Colorado and provide ongoing, multi-year support to survivors with specialized legal services in 20+ legal areas. In January 2022, ALIGHT developed and delivered a training focused on culturally-competent lawyering, which attracted 108 attorneys registrants. This program was co-sponsored by the following associations: CO Bar, Asian Pacific Bar, LGBT Bar, Denver Bar, Sam Cary Bar, Hispanic Bar and South Asian Bar.
