Ann Elizabeth Duboise: There are 2.5 million people-- that's 2.5 million people that are forced into slavery at any given time. Currently, as I'm speaking to you right now, people are being trafficked. Do you know that nearly 20%-- that's 20% of all trafficking victims pass through Texas.

These alarming statistics are taken from the PeoplesUnitedSummit.org. By a show of hands, how many of you here [inaudible] an organization called Central Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking? All right, hopefully by the end of this speech, there'll be a few more hands.

Central Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking, [inaudible] to combat human trafficking of course, and today I'll teach you about this organization. I feel qualified to talk to you about this organization because I have been studying it for four weeks, and I attended a speech on the matter.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Ann Elizabeth DuBoise. By the end of my speech you will know how the Central Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking was formed, by [inaudible]. Second, you will learn the mission of the organization. And finally, you will learn what you can do to help. Also, by the end of my speech, I hope that you will be able to join Central Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking, and combat human trafficking.

According to ctcaht.org, the Central Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking was formed in 2003 after Austin law enforcement worked their first human trafficking case. The Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs, from Texas Health and Human Services Commission, was key in pulling together the organization. And the organization was funded by grants. In 2004 they received a grant from the Department of Justice and the Office for Victims of Crime, which allowed them part time personnel. And then in 2005, this grant grew to allow full time personnel because of how much of a difference they were making.

Now that you know a little bit about the organization and how it was created, I will tell you the mission of the organization. Central Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking sets out to increase the community commitment to ending human slavery. As stated on ctcaht.org, the mission of the Central Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking is to work collaboratively to increase public awareness and education of human trafficking cases, and to provide identified victims of human trafficking with comprehensive social and medical services.

Now that you know the mission of Central Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking, I will tell you what you can do to help. Human trafficking is happening all around us, but what can we do? First we need to be able to identify it. As stated by the state government, human trafficking is an umbrella term used to describe the activities involved when someone obtains or holds a person in compelled service without being able to get out. Second, as stated by ctcaht.org, if you feel that you've encountered a victim of human trafficking, call the authorities. The national trafficking hot-line is 1-888-373-7888 Once again, that's 1-888-373-7888.

I am nearing the end of my speech. Today I talked to you about how the organization of Central Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking was formed. My [inaudible] point. Second, I addressed the mission of the organization. And finally, I told you what you can do to help. Now you know a little about the organization. I hope that you want to get involved. And I hope that you can now identify victims of human trafficking. It's happening here, and it's happening now.