Politics & Government

Congresswoman Speier Hosts Anti Human Trafficking Training in Burlingame

Friday's training is geared toward hotel managers to teach them how to recognize victims.

Hotel managers are welcome to attend an anti human trafficking training in Burlingame Friday afternoon. 

The training, hosted by Congresswoman Jackie Speier, will teach hotel manager how to recognize human trafficking victims and how to interfere, according to a news release. 

The training is set for 2:30-4 p.m. Friday, April 19, at the Hilton San Francisco Airport Bayfront in Burlingame. It's hosted in conjuction with the Burlingame and South San Francisco police departments. 

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According to the release, "the managers will hear from public officials and experts about the severity of human trafficking in the area, learn how to recognize victims and how to interfere."

Speakers will include Burlingame Mayor Ann Keighran, Burlingame Police Chief Ed Wood, South San Francisco Police Sergeant Billy Schwartz and representatives from the Burlingame Hotel Manager’s Safety Association. 

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More from the release: 

This will be the third hotel training Congresswoman Speier and law enforcement have held since 2010 when she launched the Zero Tolerance Anti-Trafficking Initiative in San Mateo County.

Sex trafficking is considered the third-largest and fastest growing criminal industry in the world; it is estimated 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders. Between 100,000 and 300,000 domestic minors are forced into this form of 21st century slavery within the U.S. annually. 

“Hotels and motels are an essential component in the vicious network of human trafficking,” Speier said. “The people working in hotels can help prevent sex trafficking if they know how to recognize signs that are not always obvious and contact the authorities when they do. For example, in a recent case on the Peninsula, a hotel worker contacted the police after noting that the same individual had rented two hotel rooms for four different young women two days in a row. Not only were the victims rescued, but their traffickers are facing lengthy sentences and fine.”

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