Dear partners,

The overwhelming success of our law enforcement human trafficking training program has exceeded even our wildest expectations. As many of you may know, my journey from a former criminal prosecutor and investigator to a champion for the eradication of human trafficking and the protection of children from sexual violence continues to ignite a fire within me. And thanks to your unwavering generosity, I am continuing to fulfill my passion and purpose. Allow me to present the significant milestones we have accomplished in our anti-trafficking initiatives over the past year, as well as the activities we intend to pursue in 2024.

Bolivia

I successfully delivered our simulation-based law enforcement human trafficking training program to police officers in the Bolivian cities of La Paz, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz, and have been asked to conduct another training event this Fall. As some of you may know, the Plurinational State of Bolivia’s Chamber of Deputies bestowed upon me the prestigious Gold Medal of Merit at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on June 21, 2023. This recognition serves as a testament to the outstanding impact of our human trafficking law enforcement training program, inspiring us to expand its reach to other developing countries. Our legal team’s pivotal role in accelerating this initiative fills us with exuberance as we firmly believe it will result in increased prosecution and punishment of traffickers, ultimately leading to the liberation of more victims. We have been asked to conduct another training event in Bolivia this Fall.

Indonesia

Over the course of the past five years, my journeys to Indonesia have provided our team with firsthand glimpses of the incredible outcomes of our human trafficking training programs in collaboration with Yayasan Pondok Kasih (YPK). Our partnership with YPK includes equipping their field trainers with the knowledge and skills to deliver crucial human trafficking law enforcement and prevention training in the remote areas of Indonesia. We have also facilitated the registration of over 175,000 children and adults in the farthest reaches of Indonesia through birth certificate registration campaigns. YPK has requested our team to undertake a mission to the Indonesian Province of Papua this year, which comprises the northern coast of Western New Guinea. This region is currently witnessing a troubling rise in both child and adult trafficking, often involving family members of the victims as well as government officials who facilitate or profit from such activities. The primary objective of this expedition will be to conduct a thorough assessment to identify the vulnerable groups being exploited. This includes internally displaced individuals working in the commercial forestry sector, children residing in communities affected by inter-tribal conflict, and vulnerable individuals—both children and adults—who have been apprehended for illegal fishing, desertion from foreign-registered fishing vessels, illegal logging, illegal gold panning, or immigration infractions.

Iraq

At the request of Dr. Muna Yaku, the Iraqi Minister of Human Rights, our team has been invited to travel to Erbil, Iraq in September, to deliver training on human rights and trafficking prevention to government officials. This initiative will also include the development of educational materials suitable for delivery to university students. We are highly enthusiastic about this opportunity and kindly seek your support, as we aim to establish a trusting relationship with both the government and university officials involved.

Hence, our unwavering resolve drives us to expand our simulation-based training to empower law enforcement officials, prosecutors, judges, and lawmakers in developing countries. By equipping them with the expertise to construct robust human trafficking and migrant smuggling cases, we aim to enhance the investigation, prosecution, and conviction of traffickers and their collaborators while liberating more innocent victims. Our simulation-based training approach also covers crucial topics, including crime scene evidence detection and advanced techniques for interviewing witnesses, suspects, and victims.

However, we cannot achieve this arduous task alone. It is imperative that we unite as a team, forming a formidable alliance of 50 partners who will stand beside us, pledging a financial commitment of $1200 per year ($100 per month). Together, we possess the power to elevate our anti-trafficking endeavors to the highest levels of influence, effectively eradicating human trafficking and preventing further victimization.

Allow me to share a lesser-known fact: our anti-trafficking advocacy work thrives solely due to the staunch support and unwavering generosity of partners like yourselves. I implore you to remain resolute in our shared fight against human trafficking by becoming one of the 50 champions who commit $1200 annually.

You can cement your commitment by sending a check for $1200 to GHNI’s Florida office address provided below (please kindly specify on a sticky note “For Charlie Lamento” and attach it to the check). GHNI Address: 934 N. Magnolia, Ste. 310 Orlando, FL 32803. Alternatively, you can choose to set up an automatic monthly donation or make a one-time payment here.

Let us forge forth with determination and compassion, joined together in the pursuit of a world freed from the clutches of human trafficking and the exploitation of the vulnerable. You, joined with others like you, make our human trafficking law enforcement training work possible. We simply cannot do this alone. Together, we can.

With gratitude, Charlie Lamento J.D.

Written by Charlie Lamento J.D., International Legal and Public Policy Advisor