Women, Peace, and Security Special Operations Forces Countering Human Trafficking Training

Rights Lab project lead: Kevin Bales
Funder: US Army
Duration: August 2022 - July 2023
Programme: Law and Policy

The young men and women who take this training are deployed around the world and often in areas which are undergoing conflict, insecurity, gross human rights violations, as well as environmental and migration crises. This training is often their first exposure to the related issues of human rights and environmental change, as well as specific areas such as the human rights challenges raised by specific armed groups, such as ISIS or Boko Haram. The personnel learn how to recognise and address these diverse human rights challenges and to take appropriate action as needed and as possible. As of mid-2022 we estimate this training has reached a minimum of 6,000 learners/soldiers, who now have a better understanding as well as clear operational goals in terms of supporting human rights, women’s rights, and recognising and addressing cases of human trafficking and enslavement, as well as understanding how enslaved combatants (such as child soldiers) might be encountered and recognised. The intended impact was to raise the understanding of human rights, women’s rights, and specific anti-human trafficking and anti-slavery knowledge and action goals amongst the US Military Personnel – especially the lower ranking solders who are often young and less educated about issues of rights. 

Our overall impact is still unfolding – following the delivery of the training to the Civil Affairs officers, the internal assessment of the training done by the US Army resulted in positive mention and report on the training package in the Annual Military Review submitted to the US President and Congress. This has led in turn to a request to adapt and develop similar training for the Special Operations Divisions of the entire US Military – meaning not just the Army, but also the Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. This is 35,000 potential students in the Army alone, and some 16,000 in the Air Force. We have also rolled out specific training packages for each Command Area (Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and Europe and Middle East) – addressing challenges unique to those Command Areas.