Hearing analysis assignment i have provided a an OK model as an example if you have any question please ask thank you

Running head: HEARING ANALYSIS 0

Hearing Analysis: Human Trafficking

Student Name

University of North Dakota

Hearing Analysis: Human Trafficking

Without question, human trafficking is a global issue transcending all racial and geographic boundaries. Not only is it the second largest criminal enterprise in the world, it is also arguably the fastest growing (unicefusa.org, 2018). Whilst much of the focus on human trafficking has centered on its global effect, little attention has been given to the extensive issues women are facing locally. The impact on Native American women and children in particular is even more startling and almost entirely overlooked. While federal agencies generally maintain data on investigations and prosecutions of human trafficking in Indian Country, they do not collect data on whether the victims are Native American. This failure in data gathering makes it difficult to provide services, or even identify, a population that is all but ignored in the fight against human trafficking. Without knowing the proper extent of the problem, it is difficult to adequately address it and even more difficult to appropriately allocate culturally sensitive resources and programs. Moving forward, it is thus crucial for those in positions of authority and power, to have the proper training and education needed to obtain more reliable data of human trafficking, especially where Native Americans are concerned. This paper will provide a brief overview of the September 27th, 2017 Indian Affairs Oversight Hearing addressing the findings from a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office report on the human trafficking of American Indians and Alaska Natives. It will also highlight the unique challenges that come from assessing the impact of human trafficking in Indian Country, as well as efforts needed to combat the issue and assist victims .

Hearing Specifics & Overview

On September 27th, 2017 at 2:30 P.M. in Washington, D.C., Chairman of the Senate of Indian Affairs Committee, Senator John Hoeven, held a committee oversight hearing to examine the findings of two recent U.S. Government Accountability Office reports on the human trafficking of American Indians and Alaska Natives. According to the GAO reports, federal agencies have been successful at maintaining data about investigations and prosecutions of human trafficking in Indian Country but have been unsuccessful at collecting data showing whether the victims are American Indian. Whilst all four federal agencies involved with human trafficking in Indian country are required to document whether a human trafficking offense is involved in a case, they are not responsible for maintaining data on the Native American status of victims. As such, without more data and better ways to process the data, many worry that there is no way to understand the true extent of human trafficking amongst some of the world’s most vulnerable women and children. This hearing was an opportunity to hear from those who had concerns regarding collecting and attaching specific ethnic information to victims and those who feel that that type of information is not only crucial for combating the issue and assisting victims, but harmful if not done.

Witness Testimonies

During the hearing, the committee heard testimony from five witnesses: Dr. Gretta Goodwin, director of Homeland Security and Justice Issues for the U.S. Government Accountability Office; Mr. Tracy Toulou, director of the Office of Tribal Justice for the U.S. Department of Justice; Mr. Jason Thompson, acting deputy director of the Office of Justice Services at the Bureau of Indian Affairs; Ms. Nicole Matthews, executive director of the Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition; and Mrs. Cindy McCain, co-chair of the Arizona Governor’s Human Trafficking Council. Dr. Gretta Goodwin opened the witness testimonies with a detailed overview of the GAO reports. She concluded that without collecting data on the Native American status of victims served, federal agencies won’t know the extent to which they are providing and improving services to vulnerable populations, including Native American human trafficking victims. Mr. Tracy Toulou acknowledged in his testimony the need to develop more effective strategies to combat trafficking in Indian country but disagreed that implementing a mandatory reporting statute was the way to go. He voiced concerns that this type of statute has the potential to infringe on a victim’s right to privacy and could even make vulnerable crime victims more easily identifiable, particularly in smaller communities .

Whilst all of the witnesses gave moving and memorable testimonies, the testimonies of Ms. Nicole Matthews and Mrs. Cindy McCain were the most powerful. As a woman of Native American heritage, Ms. Matthews helped give a face and a voice to the hundreds of Indian victims affected by human trafficking. She spoke to the inner parts of all of us that house a fighter of injustices and a protector of the innocents and she invited everyone to reach out to the Native community and listen to their stories of heartache and healing. She concluded her testimony with words spoken by a survivor of human trafficking urging all of us to be “people with hearts.” Cindy McCain, wife of Senator John McCain, spoke to the fact that Native Americans are largely and unfairly overlooked as victims. She went on to say that Native American girls are sold for high prices on websites like BackPage.com and most are never heard from again. McCain was also the first to mention a true need for culturally sensitive victim assistance programs to help re -empower women and children darkened by the shadows of human trafficking.

The Response

Each of the members present at the hearing are there because they recognize a deficiency in how human trafficking on Indian grounds is being handled. Whilst they may differ on what steps should be taken next, they all agree that what is currently being done is not enough. Considering the fact that Native American women are trafficked far more frequently than any other racial group in the United States and the fact that there were only two federal prosecution cases of human trafficking in Indian country from 2013 – 2016, it is of no surprise that a hearing of this nature was called. It remains a real threat that without a better understanding of the problem, people are more likely to be arrested for prostitution than to be recognized as victims of trafficking.

Those in favor of having Federal agencies do more to collect and monitor data on human trafficking in Indian Country are of the belief that better understanding of a problem leads to better ways to combat it. Without accurate data, it is impossible to figure out what services are needed for a particular population. A generic program set in place to help survivors of human trafficking may hold little appeal to a person with strong cultural ties living on an Indian reservation. As is the case for any group of vulnerable people, it is always important to have an understanding of the population being served. Victims may be more willing to provide sensitive information if there are culturally specific programs put in place to help them and knowing their ethnicities would help with this.

Those who feel that information regarding one’s ethnic status should remain voluntary, are operating under the idea that asking for this information would be a violation of a person’s privacy. Due to the historic relationship between Native Americans and the federal government, Native Americans generally distrust state and federal justice systems. For this reason, many trafficking victims choose not to identify themselves as victims out of fear. To a population who already feel oppressed and discriminated against, asking them to provide sensitive information may prevent them from ever coming forward in the first place.

Conclusion

This paper has addressed the key topics brought up at the oversight hearing on human trafficking of Native American and Alaska Native women. It also highlighted the unique challenges that come from assessing the impact of human trafficking in Indian Country, as well as efforts needed to combat the issue and assist victims. Moving forward, one thing is certain: Human trafficking robs its victims of their most basic human rights. Obtaining proper data is only one small part of the equation towards ending human trafficking. Truly tackling the issue of human trafficking on Native American women and children means understanding why they were trafficked in the first place. Programs targeted to end poverty, homelessness, child sexual abuse and addiction are equally needed alongside the conversation of human trafficking.

To conclude, Ms. Matthews spoke of a young woman named Violet, a survivor of human trafficking, that urged all of us to be ‘people with hearts.’ This is perhaps the greatest advice of all - a reminder to all of us that from a place of love, real change can happen.