Student Full Speech 09: Ann DuBoise, Central Texas Coalition against Human Trafficking

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 percent—that's 20 percent—of all trafficking victims pass through Texas? These alarming statistics are taken from the People's United Summit.org. By a show of hands, how many of you, prior to my speech, have heard of an organization called Central Texas Coalition against Human Trafficking? Alright, hopefully by the end of this speech there'll be a few more hands. Central Texas Coalition against Human Trafficking sets out to combat human trafficking of course, which I will speak to you about this organization. I feel qualified to talk to you about this organization because I've 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 Central Texas Coalition against Human Trafficking was formed, my first main point. Second, you will learn the mission of the organization. And finally, you will learn what you could 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, 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 is 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'd been 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 identification of human trafficking cases, and to revive 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 you do? First, you 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 and compels a 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 Hotline is 1-888-373-7888. Once again, that's 1-888-373-7888. I am near the end of my speech. Today I spoke to you about how the organization Central Texas Coalition against Human Trafficking was formed, my first main point. Second, I addressed the mission of the organization. And finally, I told you what you can do to help. Now that you know a little bit 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.