Startech Services

Human Trafficking Projects

The blight of Human Trafficking (HT) in our global society is one we can all do something about.  Every one of us face a situation where someone is trafficked every day, and we rarely notice it.

So the first thing one can do to combat Human Trafficking is to educate yourself on what it is, how to identify someone that is being trafficked, and what to do when you suspect you see a case of HT.

Let’s start with the last one, it is the easiest.

Call   911   ,  AND

Call the Human Trafficking Help Line:
1 (888) 373-7888

Or an easy way to remember it is:
888  3737  888.

There are a number of resources online and in person where you can learn about the various dimensions of HT.  Most state governments offer online and in person classes.  You will be surprised at how many sectors of our daily life intersect with potential HT victims.  Use Google or contact your local law enforcement organization and educate yourself about HT.

How do we identify someone that is being trafficked.  Any one of these indicators can give you a clue that the person in question is being trafficked:

Human Trafficking Indicators

  • Living with employer.
  • Poor living conditions.
  • Multiple people in cramped space.
  • Inability to speak to individual alone.
  • Answers appear to be scripted and rehearsed.
  • Employer is holding identity documents.
  • Signs of physical abuse.
  • Submissive or fearful.[1]

Once you understand and have some knowledge about some of the dimensions of HT these indicators, that you may have witnessed before, take on a much different meaning.  It is very common that the person being trafficked, is afraid to come forward and ask for help because of the fear of retaliation being taken on their friends and family.

Startech has extensive experience in the global sphere of dealing with different cultures, norms and habits with regard to HT.  Startech engages in select projects in the Human Trafficking arena, specifically with regard to international recruiting of victims.

If you have situation that needs external advice and help with regard to the organization, staffing, budgets, policies, procedures and actions to take to combat HT, Startech can help.  Contact us today.

[1] US Department of State

Economic Development Three-Legged Stool

here are three avenues of economic development:

  1.      growing new businesses organically
  2.      attracting new businesses to move into the area, and
  3.      retaining and expanding existing business.

Startech focuses it’s consulting expertise on using new technologies to create and grow new business in all three.  Each one of these avenues requires a deep understanding of the clients environment and a broad knowledge of technologies that can be applied successfully in the clients ecosystem to create economic growth.  We have a long and successful track record of creating technology companies.

History

Startech Foundation originally known as SATAI, began in 1999 as a grass roots community effort to develop the San Antonio technology economy.  Key community figures, politicians, and business leaders recognized the need for long term, sustained growth of the technology community and the need to leverage the region’s strengths.  The City of San Antonio, academia, and industry joined forces around the common goals of collaboration and communication that fostered accelerated development of the technology industry sector.

Startech Foundation was a private Texas corporation recognized as a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) by the US Internal Revenue Service.  The charter of Startech Foundation states it is “operated exclusively for … charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes”.  It played a key role in the development and implementation of initiatives that further the entrepreneurial environment and the opportunities produced by a vigorous technology economy.  Since 2003, Startech has assisted its clients in raising more than $315M in equity funding from a wide variety of sources.

Any regional economic ecosystem is composed of many critical, synergistic, collaborative, and sometimes competitive components.  Startech Foundation, as a not-for-profit, served as a collaborative and supportive group, not to replicate these components, but collaborate to insure that all of the key ones are present, vibrant and growing.  The board of Startech Foundation decided to cease operations in early 2013.

Startech International is a private for-profit Texas corporation.   The for-profit corporation has a charter that enables it to include an expanded mission.  This provides Startech International with the freedom to engage clients around the US and world in an unencumbered manner.

Speaking Topics

Ukrainian International Human Trafficking – Face to Face

Speech Topic:                  Ukrainian International Human Trafficking – Face to Face

Speech Duration:           20-60 minutes

Audio/Visual:                   Microphone
                                              PowerPoint slides

Q&A:                                   Yes

Speaker Recording:       No

Speaker Fee:                    $1,500 + travel expenses

Short description:

Jim spent months in Spain to counter the International Human Trafficking recruitment of Ukrainian refugee women and children.  Today there are more than 100,000 refugees there, with hundreds more arriving each week.  Spain is the fourth largest recipient of non-transient refugees in the EU, with more than 80% being women and children.  The major ports of entry for refugees in Spain are Barcelona, Madrid and Alicante. 

Jim has 40+ years of international assignments including 20+ years of those in law enforcement.  He has lived and worked based in the US, Amsterdam and Singapore.  He provides some unique insights into the rapidly evolving, slimy tunnels of International Human Trafficking.  He continues to work on the recruitment side of International Human Trafficking.

The overall message is:

  • International Human Trafficking is a real and growing business (crime)
  • The realities of recruitment in International HT
  • Many facets of recruiting in International HT is in fact not illegal (in many cases)
  • You probably come in contact with a person that has been HT every day
  • Recruitment occurs in almost every venue imaginable