The Association of Scholars of Trafficking in Persons was announced and established on November 27, 2007 at The Protection Project’s Second Annual Symposium. Dr. Mohamed Mattar, the director of The Protection Project and well known trafficking scholar, pointed out that in several national and international laws there is a mandate to study and raise awareness on trafficking in persons. One in particular, the Brussels Declaration on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings states:
“Closer links should be developed with educators and Ministries of Education with a view to elaborating and including relevant and realistic teaching modules in school and college curricula and to informing pupils and students of human rights and gender issues. These subjects should specifically be linked to teaching young people about the modus operandi and dangers presented by trafficking crime, the opportunities for legal migration and foreign employment and of the grave risks involved in irregular migration”
In accordance with that vision the Association will continue to meet at least once a year and will continue its purpose of building a network of scholars and a resource for scholars to help study, teach, and ultimately end trafficking in persons.
Click here to read Dr. Mattar’s speech at the November 27th Conference