ECPAT-USA Presents at Texas Businesses Against Trafficking Panel at Texas State Capitol

ECPAT-USA’s Director of Private Sector Engagement, Michelle Guelbart was invited to speak on a panel of non-profit organizations at Texas Businesses Against Trafficking (TBAT) Partnership Forum, hosted by the Texas Secretary of State's Office. The office of Texas Secretary of State, Ruth R. Hughs, who has been a huge supporter and leader in efforts to engage businesses on the issue, organized the event.

In 2016, the Secretary of State established a human trafficking prevention business partnership under Texas government code. 

The event opened with Toni McKinley, M.A., L.P.C., a trauma counselor working with survivors of sex trafficking, speaker, and trainer, giving an eye-opening and informative background of the issue. 

Along with Guelbart, the non-profit panel included Bill Clark, Chief Advancement Officer for A21 , Noel Mendoza, Director of Human Trafficking Outreach for Mosaic and Kim Robinson, CEO for New Friends New Life. This panel was moderated by Julian Alvarez III, Texas’ Commissioner Representing Labor.

Guelbart shared information about ECPAT-USA, the importance of engaging businesses, and gave background about ECPAT-USA’s Y-ACT program run by ECPAT-USA’s Youth Outreach Manager, Kyra Wooden. 

Texas Secretary of State Ruth R. Hughs, left, and Michelle Guelbart.

“It takes an honest look for businesses to not just philanthropically support organizations like ours (which IS incredibly important) but to also adjust the operations that make them susceptible to being used by exploiters,” said Guelbart. “Adopting anti-trafficking policies, implement training, putting together corporate task forces on the issue is important. It is also important to engage employees-- through volunteer opportunities, brown bag sessions, and encouraging them to get involved locally. All of this can drive a corporate commitment against human trafficking home to front-line employees who might see exploitation.”

When speaking about Y-ACT, Guelbart shared the following: “ECPAT-USA recognizes pre-teens and adolescents as the key stakeholders of the movement to end the sexual exploitation of children. This population is often excluded from the conversation and with this in mind, we created the Youth Against Child Trafficking program (Y-ACT). In doing so, we seek to include and amplify the voices of the most vulnerable group – young people.”

The private sector panel held after the nonprofit panel was again moderated by Mr. Alvarez and included Patrick Sanders, Director & Senior Attorney – Government Contracts and Compliance for American Airlines, Hitesh Patel for AHOA, Ama Romaine, General Counsel for G6 Hospitality, and Michael Hanson, Senior Director, Government & External Affairs for Sabre Corporation.

The event was sponsored by ECPAT-USA partners, AHLA and Sabre.