5 Questions for Nina DeJonghe, Director of Public Policy

As the new Director of Public Policy, Nina DeJonghe is responsible for developing and strategically executing our policy agenda. Nina liaises with Congress, local elected officials, as well as organizations focused on protecting children from a traumatic life of sex trafficking and exploitation.

Welcome to ECPAT-USA! Can you tell us something about yourself?

My passion for public policy stemmed from my own personal experiences in foster care and psychologically understanding being adopted. As a result of my history with the child welfare system, I was left with a myriad of questions. I wanted to know why outcomes for children varied and why some children were removed from their families while others remained in their homes. Those two questions made me realize there’s a lot of work that needs to be done in order to effectively serve vulnerable communities. Not only looking at policy, but it is also important we take a holistic approach to address the systemic racial, social, and equity issues that continue to plague the very system we seek to reform. 

Assessing my own hardships and empathizing with others through their traumatic experiences fast-tracked me into public service. I knew creating sustainable solutions was imperative to fixing a broken system. We all have a calling, mine was centered around government accountability and responsibility, as well as preventative approaches.

What is something you are passionate about in the anti-trafficking space?

In general, I am passionate about protecting children in every sense. I am excited for the opportunity to work with other dedicated professionals who care deeply about this issue.   Anti-trafficking is an area that deserves more attention than it is given and I look forward to highlighting the severity of its lifelong implications. 

I have always been an advocate for victim rights and prioritizing prevention and intervention resources. I believe if we were able to educate people on patterns of behaviors and address root causes we would be better equipped to solve many public policy issues.  I spent a great deal of time on Capitol Hill working on policies that would decrease the number of children entering the foster care system in the first place. I intend to strategize ways in which we can better detect and serve at-risk children in the anti-trafficking space. 

What does “public policy” at ECPAT-USA mean to you?

Public policy at its core refers to laws, regulations, and principles that govern the masses. To me, public policy should be representative of its people. As we move towards a more progressive society, I hope that we can all be more inclusive in understanding each other's plights when making policy or program development decisions and acknowledge cultures and traditions that make us who we are.

Here at ECPAT-USA,  public policy means educating the community, including elected leaders, of the dangers, implications, and the reality of commercially exploited children. We must find ways to encourage the judicial system to protect children who are victims of such heinous and gruesome acts. It is critical that we find a way to explain trauma bonds as it is a common tactic traffickers use to manipulate their victims.  

What are you most looking forward to at ECPAT-USA in 2021?

I am looking forward to positively impacting the lives of children. It is disheartening to hear stories of people being victimized and subjected to some of the most traumatic situations. It is dehumanizing to put a person through a life of sexual exploitation; victims become enervated leaving them cognitively and physically disadvantaged.

Additionally, I am excited to assess the intersectionality of children in the foster care system and sex trafficking. Undoubtedly there are links between the two. We are looking at a population of people who have been predisposed to trauma, suffer from attachment issues, and have already been forced to deal with unhealthy bonds leaving them extremely vulnerable to being trafficked. 

What are your goals for the future?

I intend to work in the government continuing to help disadvantaged and marginalized communities. There are too many people suffering domestically and internationally who don’t have the ability to advocate for themselves. I will be their voice and ensure they have a platform to effectively communicate their plight while advocating for sustainable public policy solutions.

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