Kaitlyn Hartmann
Host: The Bronx Defenders
Sponsor: KPMG LLP, The Sidley Austin Foundation
People with disabilities are more likely to be victims of sexual abuse and trafficking than people without disabilities. They also face many barriers to justice, which in turn increases their vulnerability. The U.S. Department of State effectively summarized this need in its 2016 Trafficking in Persons report: “Lack of training for police, prosecutors, and judges on how to accommodate persons with disabilities—for example, on providing physical access or sign language interpreters—can leave victims with disabilities unable to report their abuse or effectively participate in the criminal justice process. Lack of accessible information about judicial procedures and rights may also preclude them from approaching law enforcement or courts to report abuse; those who do may encounter social biases against the credibility of their statements and evidence…. Diminished access to the justice system and limited avenues of recourse to address abuse can empower traffickers to target persons with disabilities….”
In the past two years, Lydia has:
Now that the Fellowship is complete, Lydia plans to continue to work at Equip for Equality ensuring people with disabilities are free from abuse and neglect and that their rights are protected. She will also continue to collaborate with the National Disability Rights Network and Protection and Advocacy Systems across the country to inform them about trafficking of people with disabilities
Host: The Bronx Defenders
Sponsor: KPMG LLP, The Sidley Austin Foundation
Host: Arizona Center For Disability Law
Sponsor: Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Host: National Center for Law and Economic Justice
Sponsor: Faber Daeufer & Itrato
Host: Equip for Equality
Sponsor: McDermott Will & Emery LLP