Featured Post from Wheaton College

Psychologist/Humanitarian Disaster Expert Available to Discuss Hurricane Michael and Human Trafficking

Oct 11, 2018

1 min

People know that communities affected by weather disasters like Hurricane Michael are in danger and need aid to rebuild.

 

But psychologist Jamie Aten, founder and director of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College in Illinois, says many don’t realize that such disasters often fuel the human rights violations of sex and labor trafficking.

 

“The dark reality is that not all are there to help,” Aten says. “Some will likely be human traffickers ready to swoop in and exploit the vulnerable.”

 

In this blog post, Aten and colleague Laura Leonard identify three factors that often fuel demand for sex and labor trafficking: significant damage, mass displacement of survivors, and an influx of outsiders. Aten and Leonard offer tips for recognizing the tactics of potential human traffickers, identifying people who are at risk, and stopping trafficking.

 

Dr. Aten is available to discuss the connection between weather/humanitarian disasters and human trafficking, as well as the psychological and spiritual needs faced by those who have suffered from disasters. To schedule an interview, contact Wheaton College Director of Media Relations LaTonya Taylor at media.relations@wheaton.edu.

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from Wheaton College

2 min

Former U.S. Attorney Available to Discuss Fallout for Trump Administration in Light of Cohen Plea

Wheaton College Professor David Iglesias, a former U.S. Attorney in New Mexico whose areas of expertise include federal prosecutions, is available for interviews regarding the fallout for the Trump administration in light of Michael Cohen’s guilty plea in federal court on 8 criminal counts, including violation of campaign finance laws. “President Trump is now in a place few presidents have ever been,” Iglesias says. “At this point, he is basically an unindicted co-conspirator to federal crimes.” “I wouldn’t call it the beginning of the end, but it’s certainly the end of the beginning.” Iglesias is an associate professor of politics and law and director of the Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics, and Economics. He can discuss topics including: -The process of presidential pardons -How federal prosecutors treat indicted persons who cooperate with information concerning the crimes of other persons, and the quid pro quo for getting an individual to cooperate with law enforcement -Guilty pleas, hung juries, and sentencing in federal court -Impeachment (What Iglesias calls “the nuclear option for removing a sitting President of the United States”), the process, and why it has happened so rarely in U.S. history -Whether a sitting president can be indicted for crimes -The importance of the rule of law (Why is America the world leader for holding all accountable for their actions? What message is being sent if wealthy and powerful people can avoid criminal exposure for their actions?) -Watergate as a precedent, and similarities/differences with the current situation -Rules of federal investigations (How do federal agencies conduct investigations? What is public and what is non-public? Why are prosecutions that are considered "political" so dangerous for law enforcement?) To request an interview with Professor Iglesias, e-mail Wheaton College Director of Media Relations LaTonya Taylor at latonya.taylor@wheaton.edu. Source:

1 min

Disaster Psychologist Available to Discuss Thai Boys' Recovery from Trauma

The world watched with relief as 12 soccer players and their coach were rescued from a flooded cave in northern Thailand after an 18-day ordeal. Amid the relief at the players' safe rescue, Dr. Jamie Aten, a Wheaton College psychologist, says it’s important that they receive care for mental health needs in addition to the physical care they are receiving. Aten, the founder and Executive Director of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College, is an internationally known expert who helps others navigate mass, humanitarian, and personal disasters with scientific and spiritual insights. Aten recommends the boys’ mental health be monitored closely following their rescue. “They may show extremes in behaviors ... they [may] sleep too much, or have difficulty sleeping,” he says. “They may develop triggers that weren’t there previously.” “Some may withdraw, while others need more attention. Over time these symptoms may lessen, but for some it could be a lifelong struggle.” To request an interview with Dr. Aten, contact Wheaton College Director of Media Relations LaTonya Taylor, latonya.taylor@wheaton.edu. Source:

1 min

Former U.S. Attorney to New Mexico: the President is Right to #KeepFamiliesTogether, But Zero Tolerance is Still "A Terrible Idea"

Professor David Iglesias, a former U.S. Attorney in New Mexico who also served as chair of the border and immigration subcommittee under John Ashcroft, is available for interviews about President Trump's executive order ending family separations at the border. Iglesias, now a professor of politics and international relations at Wheaton College (Ill.) and director of the Wheaton Center for Faith, Politics & Economics (wheaton.edu/fpe) had called the policy "a moral outrage" in a recent comments (http://bit.ly/2MIIxtA), and, along with a bipartisan group of former U.S. Attorneys, called on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to end the policy. "The president did the right thing to rescind this policy," he says. "It's to the administration's credit that they pulled back." However, he says, the zero tolerance policy, which still remains in place, is "a terrible idea." Iglesias says it is likely to overload the courts with misdemeanors by first-time offenders. "Federal courts along the border will be overwhelmed with nothing but immigration cases, and serious crimes will languish under the weight of minor offenses," he says. "Federal courts on the southwest border will be reduced exclusively to handling immigration offenses and will essentially become federal traffic court." "Zero tolerance may make a catchy bumper sticker, but it is the very definition of bad public policy," Iglesias says. To request an interview with Professor Iglesias, e-mail media.relations@wheaton.edu. Source:

View all posts
Powered by