partner agencies, to secure a $1.25 million
appropriation for direct services for victims
of trafficking. Most of that funding, made
available through a competitive application
process, was distributed to various sexual
assault and at-risk youth service agencies in
the state. Legal Services of North Dakota
(LSND) secured a portion of that funding
in order to hire a staff attorney, Nadia Javaid,
who is assigned to handle human trafficking
cases that arise in the state. Trafficking
victims have a myriad of legal issues that can
arise in connection with their exploitation.
These legal needs can include comprehensive
legal assessment, civil law assessments,
immigration issues, victim/witness advocacy,
family law, victim compensation/access to
benefits, housing advocacy, civil litigation,
vacatur/expungement, and criminal defense.
Javaid and LSND are working in
collaboration with FUSE and the newly
established, federally funded North Dakota
Human Trafficking Task Force (NDHTTF)
to provide comprehensive legal services to
victims of trafficking. LSND will be part of
collaborative community efforts, coordinated
by NDHTTF’s three statewide Human
12
THE GAVEL
“
While the scourge of human trafficking is a tragic reality
in our state, we are proud to share the significant strides
we have made in combatting this problem and in
making sure victims in our state are well supported.
Trafficking Navigators, to proactively
investigate human trafficking and ensure
comprehensive and seamless support to
victims in our state. FUSE has also been
supported by Fredrikson & Byron (a special
thanks to Tyler Gludt in the Bismarck office)
through their generous provision of pro
bono services, and is working with Crowley
Fleck PLLP to explore additional pro bono
opportunities for their attorneys to support a
broad anti-trafficking legal network.
While the scourge of human trafficking is
a tragic reality in our state, we are proud to
share the significant strides we have made
in combatting this problem and in making
sure victims in our state are well supported.
We now have 13 full-time staff positions
dedicated to fighting human trafficking
scattered in agencies across the state, have
incorporated the leadership of survivors of
”
human trafficking into our coalitions and
agencies, and have secured more than $3
million in federal, state, and private funding.
FUSE, the NDHTTF, and our partner
agencies continue to conduct trainings,
offer technical assistance, build community
capacity, and act as referral resources in North
Dakota. In the event any SBAND members
need training and technical assistance with
learning to identify trafficking victims they
may encounter, would like to know referral
resources in their area, or are interested in
supporting anti-trafficking work in North
Dakota, please contact FUSE at 701-9345593 or at [email protected].
1. CAWS North Dakota, First Nations’ Women’s Alliance, Prevent
Child Abuse North Dakota, the North Dakota Women’s Network
and the National Association of Social Workers – North Dakota
chapter
2. http://www.projectfuse.org/contributors.html