Community Unites to End Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking

More than 450 attendees gathered at the UCSF Mission Bay campus to hear business leaders, health care providers, educators, advocates, faith leaders and policy makers at the first-ever "Ending Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking in the 21st Century" summit. Featured speakers included University of Southern California law professor and author Susan Estrich, California State Senator Jackie Speier and Mills College President Janet Holmgren, with US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York) in a recorded video address. "It takes a community to fight violence against women, and that's what we've seen at today's summit," said Nancy Milliken, MD, director of the UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women's Health, which co-sponsored the Feb. 13 event. "Our hope is that this powerful network of academic and community leaders we've brought together will help inspire and seed similar prevention efforts across the country to protect women and girls."

From left, Esta Soler, president of the Family Violence Prevention Fund, San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris and Mary Ann Thode, president of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, participate in a panel discussion on domestic violence against women on Feb. 13. Photo/Gene X Hwang (Orange Photography)

At the summit, Bay Area organizations, businesses and advocates were recognized for their pioneering work to identify and report incidents of human trafficking and domestic violence in their own backyards. "One of the most unsettling things about human trafficking and domestic violence is that they happen right in front of us and in our own neighborhoods, which is why community-based prevention is such an imperative," said Roselyne C. Swig, summit co-chair and founder of Partners Ending Domestic Abuse. "Each of us plays a critical role in ensuring women and children are safe from violence through a heightened awareness and the important initiatives that have been presented." Macy's West, the Blue Shield of California Foundation, the San Francisco Giants and Kaiser Permanente were among the local businesses that presented their workplace initiatives to train employees to identify and respond to domestic violence. They also shared corporate-sponsored public awareness campaigns to educate the greater community. "Managers need to be briefed on how to recognize signs of domestic violence and respond appropriately to ensure the safety of not only the victim, but of all employees," said Brigid McCaw, MD, medical director of the family violence prevention program at Kaiser Permanente. A highlight of the event was the showing of a prepared video statement from Senator Clinton. Clinton's video, which was introduced by her former White House chief of staff and the current Vital Voices Global Partnership board chairman, Melanne Verveer, gave one of the day's calls to action. "These barbaric practices have caused far too many women and families to exist in a perpetual state of fear and vulnerability," said Clinton. "Through our combined efforts, we can work at the grassroots and legislative levels to end the cycle of abuse and trafficking." Summit attendees received action kits with specific tips for how the business community, individuals and faith leaders can make a direct impact on ending human trafficking and domestic violence. The tips range from how to recognize the signs of domestic violence or human trafficking to how a business can set up employee training. As a follow-up to the summit, a Leadership Academy will be held on Friday, March 31, at Mills College to encourage ongoing activism and legislative advocacy. Source: Julia Mitchell