Abstract for presentation at Global Social Work 2004

This oral presentation will address emerging international human rights issues. In the United States, new federal legislation is offering protection for victims of trafficking. At the same time, immigrant women who are fleeing persecution from domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of violence, are facing complex legal issues in finding asylum in the United States. The search for adequate social services is equally challenging. In order to have a wholistic approach to providing services to those individuals, it is essential to develop new models of service delivery that include multi-disciplinary teams of professionals. Knowledge of the values and approaches to problem solving of other disciplines is essential to the success of a team approach. One tool for determining effective team approaches in and among countries will be described in the presentation.

The presentation will focus on three primary areas:
1. An overview of the federal legislation enacted in the United States in 2000 to protect victims of trafficking and violence. One presenter represented the women who were trafficked into Alaska in what became the first federal prosecution that occurred in the United States after the legislation's enactment. A brief summary of that case will be shared.
2. An in-depth description of some of the problems facing both the victims and the legal system in representing individuals who are seeking asylum in the United States because of sexual assault and other forms of violence against women. Two presenters have successfully represented women in many of these cases.
3. An identification of the ethics and practice issues that may confront social workers who choose to work in this area of critical need. One presenter presently chairs the national ethics committee for NASW (National Committee on Inquiry).