UCLA Student Lilly Chau exposes modern slavery happening in the US – First international video conference on human trafficking in Los Angeles –

UCLA student and representative of Americans for Informed Democrary, Lilly Chau, presented a research paper on Human Trafficking at the first international human rights video conference in Los Angeles on Monday.

She was joined by a panel featuring TV actress Lynsey Bartilson, star of the Warner Brother’s series “Grounded for Life,” Canadian movie actor Tyler Hynes, Best Actor Genimi Nonimee for “Tagged: The Jonathan Womback Story”, Claire Kevitt, YHRI youth spokesperson, Marie Ngo Nguidjol, students at Los Angeles City college respectively. Through video conferencing, they discussed the role of youth in combating the $9.5 billion-a-year illegal trade in human beings with students of the Bonar Memorial Law School in New Brunswick, Canada. Pam Johnson of the Canadian Consulate in Los Angeles as well as Rohida Khan of the L.A.-based African Community Resource Center, which helps human trafficking survivors, also took part.

Lilly Chau presented the findings of a UCLA research group that more than 15,000 individuals are trafficked into the United States annually. “I was shocked to find out how many everyday products have been produced by people who are held under slavery-like conditions.”, said Chau. She and the research group recommend not to support companies which force children to 14-16 daily work and abuse adults for bonded labor. “There should be more research and interest in this topic, especially my young people here at UCLA”, added Ms. Chau. The U.S. State Department estimates that in the United States 14,000 – 17,000 individuals are forced into prostitution, domestic services and farm work, even as the nation celebrates 140 years of liberation from the slavery of black Americans.

Lynsey Bartilson explained to the audience that human trafficking is “one of the biggest violations of human rights in the world today, yet the issue is largely buried and rarely covered in the media.” As a result, Bartilson has made it her mission to help expose – and end – the practice. "This is not ´just a Third World´ issue but is happening right here in the US,” said Mary Shuttleworth, Director of Youth for Human Rights International. "Video conferences such as this one are a tool to raise awareness and support internationally for those victimized by human trafficking throughout the world.”

Youth for Human Rights International and the Church of Scientology International’s Human Rights Department have co-sponsored a number of conferences to raise public awareness of human trafficking and so bring about action.

For more information and photos:
Mary Shuttleworth (323) 663-5799, www.youthforhumanrights.org