The Pacific Center in Human Security at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) is hosting a two-day workshop this week to raise awareness about human trafficking in American Samoa.
The sessions take place Thursday, October 9, and Friday, October 10, at the ASCC Multi-Purpose Center, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The keynote speaker is Ben Greer, an attorney with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, who specializes in training law enforcement and emergency managers on counter-trafficking and counterterrorism.
Greer noted that trafficking is often misunderstood. “Seventy-two percent of identified victims in California were U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. It’s about taking advantage of vulnerabilities and forcing someone to do something against their will for profit,” he said.
Greer explained that trafficking touches nearly every industry, including hospitality, construction, fishing, and restaurants. While commercial sexual exploitation is more visible, he stressed that forced labor is widespread but harder to detect.
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