Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked in countries around the world, including the United States. It is estimated that human trafficking generates many billions of dollars of profit per year, second only to drug trafficking as the most profitable form of transnational crime. Human trafficking is a hidden crime as victims rarely come forward to seek help because of language barriers, fear of the traffickers, and/or fear of law enforcement. Southcoast Health arranged to have Victim Assistance Specialist Peter DiMarzio from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration  and Customs Enforcement in Boston speak at a public forum on June 30, 2016. The presentation was designed to help both hospital personnel and community human service employees more readily identify trafficking victims and learn how to intervene. Click here for a one-hour-35-minute video of the presentation. For further information, contact St. Luke's Hospital Emergency Services Director Michele Azevedo at 508-974-5619.

(Top row, left and center) Donna Wencis, RN, signs-in attendees as Rev. Doug Cederberg of Pilgrim United Chuirch of Christ talks with Rev. David Lima of the Greater New Bedford Inter-Church Council before being seated in the McBratney Amphitheatre at St. Luke's Hospital. (Top row, right) St. Luke's Hospital Emergency Services Director Michele Azevedo introduces speaker Victim Assistance Specialist Peter DiMarzio. (Middle row) Mr. DiMarzio speaks for over 90 minutes on all aspects of human trafficking. (Bottom row) Mr. DiMarzio talks with members of the audience including sisters from Saint Anne's Hospital in Fall and St. Luke's RN Lindsey Marshall, following his presentation.