Haramaya University College of Law students participated on 13th Annual International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference held from September 22-23, 2016 at the University of Toledo, Ohio, USA.

College of Law of students, Endalkachew Abera and Andinet Adinew, took part in the conference.

The purpose of the conference is to bring together researchers, practitioners and students in an effort to lay the groundwork for future collaborative research, advocacy, and program development. Additionally, the conference aims to further educate social service and health care providers, criminal justice professionals and outstanding students on human trafficking and the needs and risks of those victimized by the commercial sex industry, according to the organizers of the conference.

The conference also aims at integrating a global perspective which is essential to provide communities with the knowledge and resources necessary to combat all forms of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. Haramaya University College of Law has participated by representing Ethiopia in international conferences beside its regular representation on different moot court competitions in the past several years.

One of the participants, Andinet, said that human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal industry in the world, and that is why the conference puts the spotlight on human trafficking.”As a student, this [conference] is phenomenal to be with others. As a youth leader, it’s great to learn about what researchers, programmers, politicians and others are doing,” Andinet added.

“And further more we got the chance to be included in global researchers team for future collaborative researches.” he added.The conference was hosted by Lucas County Human Trafficking Coalition and the University of Toledo Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute.