HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS REPRESENTATION PROGRAM 

CABA Pro Bono Legal Services (CABA Pro Bono) provides free legal services to serve victims of human trafficking.  

Human Trafficking is: 

The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by the threat or use of kidnapping, force, fraud, deception or coercion, or by the giving or receiving of unlawful payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control of another person, and for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor.

 Florida Statute 787.06 – The legislature finds that human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. Victims of human trafficking are young children, teenagers and adults. Many victims of human trafficking are made to engage in prostitution, pornography and endure physical and psychological abuse.

 Worldwide, human trafficking is on the rise. Pursuant to the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking, “Florida has been identified as a hub for human trafficking activity, citing one of the highest incidents of human trafficking in the country,” affecting both foreign and domestic individuals.

 Victims of human trafficking can be of any sex, race or age. Human trafficking can occur to anyone, anywhere and in any situation. However, according to the National Organization of Women, certain demographical trends have been observed. It is estimated that about 80% of the victims of human trafficking are female and up to half are minors. Trafficked women are typically under 25 years of age, with the majority being in their mid to late teens. For the most part, children tend to be trafficked within their own countries, while women aged 18 to 30 tend to be trafficked internationally, mostly for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. 

Navigating the Legal System

 In addition to the numerous social service needs of victims of human trafficking, they are often faced with overwhelming legal issues. CABA Pro Bono has a specially trained staff attorney to represent victims and to address the wide array of legal needs they may have.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS REPRESENTATION PROGRAM

Miami-Dade County reported 9,357 cases of domestic violence in 2016, the most of any county in Florida, according to the latest figures available from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. CABA Pro Bono Legal Services (CABA Pro Bono) provides free legal services to serve victims of domestic violence.

Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, gender, religion or sexual orientation. It can happen to married couples, couples who are living together, couples who are dating and to members of the same family who live together. Domestic violence relates to behavior between intimate partners that harms, gains or maintains control over another person, but it can also include such behavior that occurs within the family context (between family members). This includes emotional, verbal, sexual or physical abuse that diminishes an individual’s personal power and creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.

• On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.
• Every 7 seconds in the United States a women is abused by an intimate partner.
• 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime.
• 1 in 7 women and 1 in 18 men have been stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime to the point in which they felt very fearful or believed that they or someone close to them would be harmed or killed.

Sources: Miami-Dade County, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence; The National Domestic Violence Hotline; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.