Human Trafficking in Asia and the Pacific Symposium

Trafficking in persons is one of the fastest growing criminal activities in the world. Asia and the Pacific, including Hawai`i, have become hubs for this activity which in part is explained by rapid globalization and the resulting movement of labor. The symposium’s panelists provide detailed presentations on case studies, illustrating the complexities of human trafficking and defying the tendency to universalize experiences. Cultural, economic, and historical contexts are factors to be considered, as well as state and federal laws and international protocols. The goal of the symposium is to examine different perspectives and questions on the topic to begin a conversation on the scope and range of the problems.