Congresswoman Speier to Help Launch Anti-Human Trafficking Training on Commercial Flights

March 9, 2012 - PRLog -- SAN MATEO, CA - Congresswoman Jackie Speier and David Palmatier of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will launch a training for airport personnel to stem the tide of human trafficking on commercial airlines. A press briefing and the training will take place in the San Francisco International Airport’s Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum in the Airport’s International Terminal on Monday, March 12, 2012 between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m.

Sex trafficking is considered the third-largest and fastest growing criminal industry in the world; it is estimated 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders and 100,000 to 300,000 domestic minors are forced into sexually slavery within the U.S. annually.  

Airline Ambassadors International, the only independent charity of the overall airline industry, has developed an industry specific training program available for airline, airport and hotel employees, as a front-line of defense.  

Speier stated, “It is absolutely unacceptable that trafficking- the modern day slavery of the 21st century – not only exists but is thriving both domestically and throughout the world. Disrupting traffickers’ unhindered access to air travel through training of airline and airport personnel is an essential step in closing the door on this horrific crime.”

Mr. Tryg McCoy, Chief Operations Officer of the San Francisco International Airport will welcome the participants and will host the event.  The training team will include Nancy Rivard, AA flight attendant and founder of Airline Ambassadors, Deborah Quigley, UA Customer Service Operations, Petra Hensley, human trafficking victim, and Sandy Dhuyvetter, TravelTalk Media and AAI Board Member.

Airline Ambassadors International, (AAI) is a non-profit charity founded by airline employees. Members provide international relief and development to under-privileged communities worldwide. As the only non-governmental organization of the airline industry, AAI has hand delivered more than $60 million worth of humanitarian aid and provided escorts and medical care to children in 52 countries  www.airlineamb.org . To complement their efforts AAI is also building Safe houses for trafficked victims at seven locations in Haiti.

Who:   Congresswoman Jackie Speier
David Palmatier, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Tryg McCoy, Chief Operations Officer SFO
Nancy Rivard, AA flight attendant and founder of Airline Ambassadors,
Deborah Quigley, UA Customer Service Operations,
Petra Hensley, human trafficking victim,
Sandy Dhuyvetter, Host of TravelTalkRADIO, TravelTalkMEDIA and AAI Board Member

What: 10: 00 a.m. Press Briefing
10:30 a.m. Anti-Human Trafficking Training
           
When: Monday, March 12, 2012, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.  

Where: San Francisco International Airport, Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, International Terminal


Contact:
CA - Katrina Rill (650) 342-0300 / (650) 208-7441 cell
Katrina.Rill@mail.house.gov

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