US releases first human trafficking report by survivors

By Esra Kaymak Avci

WASHINGTON (AA) – Eleven human trafficking survivors on Tuesday released a self-authored first-ever annual report based on their own experiences.

The survivors of sex and labor trafficking were appointed last December by President Barack Obama to the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, where the victims were asked to provide advice and recommendations on federal anti-trafficking policies.

The aim is to improve policies on trafficking that not only raise public awareness and offer better services for victims, but also possible suggest changes to the legislation.

The 28-page report includes detailed policy recommendations and survivor-informed analysis to combat human trafficking.

Recommendations include helping survivors get their lives back on track and increasing funding to investigate industries for labor trafficking.

"I hope that the survivor leaders will not be simply seen as one opinion. I hope the Council [The U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking] is honored as the light and voice of thousands. The hope that too many survivors need," survivor Tatyana Foltz, who is not among the authors, said in the report.

There are approximately 27 million victims of human trafficking worldwide, including 1.2 million children, according to UNICEF.