Dottie Laster Receives “Hero Award” From Youth For Human Rights International

In a world of turmoil it’s hard to discern our modern day heroes. Behind the headlines countless people quietly go about their missions. Combatting human trafficking, modern day slavery, has been the mission of Dottie Laster for over 10 years.

A hero is defined as “a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” Dottie Laster and her work to eradicate human trafficking are the epitome of this definition.

On April 5, 2013 Dottie Laster was recognized and presented the “Hero Award” by Dr. Mary Shuttleworth, President, Youth for Human Rights International, in Washington, DC, for her continued determination to end human trafficking.

Youth for Human Rights International (www.youthforhumanrights.org) is the world’s largest nongovernmental human rights education program with the purpose of teaching youth the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and thereby making youth advocates for tolerance and peace. It is used by thousands of organizations and governments around the world.

“These situations exist all over the world,” says Laster. “Trafficking involves compelled labor or service. You probably automatically think of forced prostitution, but there are many other instances as well. People are trafficked for work in restaurants, hotel housekeeping, construction, landscaping, factories, day labor, domestic service and child care, among others.”

During Laster’s presentation to attendees, she addressed a specific type of modern day slavery, the cantina girl, or “cantinera.” Forced to work in Latin cantinas, drinking every night with unknown men, some by choice, but most often through fraud or coercion, Laster presented the trailer for the upcoming documentary in which she and her work with victims of trafficking is featured, The Cantinera.

“Human trafficking, and how it claims it’s victims, is one of the most critical messages our youth needs to hear in order to become aware of the tactics traffickers use; to lure them into dangerous situations, how they gain their trust, leading them into a world they never knew existed.”

Dottie Laster is a nationally recognized expert in the field of human trafficking. She has been trained by the Department of Justice to train law enforcement on human trafficking. She has been the architect and leader of human trafficking task forces and coalitions in many cities in Texas and California. In her career she has been directly and indirectly responsible for the rescue and service of over 200 victims of trafficking in the United States. She is credentialed to practice immigration law through the Bernado Kohler Center.