Op-Ed: Mercedes Schlapp and Frank Russo: We must unite to end the modern day slavery that is human trafficking
This month marked a milestone in the fight against modern day slavery as CPAC’s Center for Combating Human Trafficking hosted its Third Annual International Summit Against Human Trafficking on Capitol Hill, a symbolic stage befitting a cause that knows no borders. This summit united partners and leaders from across the globe to tackle the most heinous of crimes associated with human trafficking. It will take a whole of government approach to fund safe houses for the courageous survivors who need healing and assist law enforcement in prosecuting the human traffickers who are preying on the most vulnerable women and children.
President Donald J. Trump and his Administration are committed to leading this movement for justice. The White House Office of Public Liaison and CPAC led the administration’s first roundtable on combating human trafficking with a focus on public and private partnerships and the cooperation of Republican Attorney Generals who are dedicated to ending human trafficking, stopping the drug epidemic, and addressing the failing foster care system. It was clear the Trump administration’s vital contributions, from the Department of Justice task forces to White House initiatives, have shaped today’s robust antitrafficking infrastructure in our nation, but more needs to be done to help the victims receive the care they need to heal and rebuild their lives. Their unwavering focus has galvanized support to our shared cause and showcased CPAC as the definitive leader as we bring traffickers to justice.
We solidified this message during the Summit as we welcomed distinguished speakers, from Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.) and Rep. Andy Biggs (R., Ariz.) to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and White House Border Czar Tom Homan, walking through real world solutions to this ongoing crisis.
Our partners also briefed the audience on major policy goals such as legislation like the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act, an effort to offer criminal record relief to victims, and the One Big Beautiful Bill, which countered cartel-driven trafficking by securing our border.
Further, our Center-led-efforts to champion state laws, such as Texas SB 1278 and Arkansas’s protection and restoration act, are tangible results of this commitment to protect victims and hold traffickers accountable.
The success of the Summit begs an important question; how can we build on the success of the past six months to bring an end to the modern slavery crisis? Collaboration amongst partners is essential to identify trafficking networks, remove and support victims caught in this web — including those caught in our failed foster care system, and ensure our Nation’s laws root out demand.
Although the answer may seem simple, the work required to achieve these goals demands full buy-in from each of the key stakeholders from President Trump’s administration tonon-profits in urban and rural localities fighting on behalf of survivors. Protecting freedom and bringing an end to these horrific crimes requires nothing less than our full commitment.
Although modern day slavery has become an international problem, CPAC’s Summit Against Human Trafficking proved we can provide an American solution that will save the lives of innocent victims.
Mercedes Schlapp is a Senior Fellow at CPAC and former White House Senior Advisor for Strategic Communications for President Trump. Frank Russo is Director of CPAC’s Center for Combating Human Trafficking.