Ivanka Trump said on Tuesday that the White House is committed to ending human trafficking but added that the government needs the involvement of the private sector as well. President Donald Trump’s daughter and senior adviser made the comments during a trip to Atlanta.
During her trip, Ivanka Trump visited several non-profit groups that help victims of human trafficking. While visiting one of the groups, she urged private firms to be more involved in helping abuse victims.
“We believe that the private sector needs to get involved with these issues and they need to provide the training for the jobs,” Ivanka Trump said, according to Crossroads Today. “And we can assist in the support.”
State and federal officials have noted the problem in Atlanta and have called it a hub for sex trafficking. But it’s hard for victims to get out of the system and live normal lives due to the lack of job opportunities and support for them.
“Aiding survivors as they rebuild their lives is one of the most important factors in the fight to end human trafficking, and providing education and job opportunities is critical,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said in a statement.
Ivanka Trump visited Wellspring Living’s Women’s Academy, which is a non-profit group that aims to help survivors of trafficking on their road to recovery. Trump was accompanied by Gov. Brian Kemp, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and other officials.
Ivanka met with sex trafficking survivors who have successfully rebuilt their lives after years of abuse. One such victim is Jessica who told of the hopelessness she felt before coming to Wellspring years ago.
“It was like a never-ending story,” Jessica said, as reported by AJC. “There was never going to be an exit. I’m here to say today, there is definitely an exit.”
Another victim, Andrea, narrated how she arrived at the Wellspring Living while still addicted to drugs, unemployable and desperate. Years later, she successfully rebuilt her life with the help of the non-profit organizations that make it their goal to help victims of abuse.
“You name it, I had done it — things that I’m not proud to talk about,” Andrea said.
Ivanka Trump said that Donald Trump’s administration is “committed to bringing the full force and weight of the U.S. government to solve the horrific problem of trafficking in persons.”
“You are very brave to tell your story,” Gov. Kemp told the victims who spoke of their experiences. “People are listening now. Your fellow Georgians are listening.”