Andrea Powell is the executive director and co-founder of FAIR Fund, an anti-human trafficking group in Washington that helps rescue children from international flesh peddlers. The privately funded group was founded in 2003. With an annual budget of about $250,000 and a staff of six, FAIR Fund fans out all over the capital region, racing to help rescued girls and trying to keep local children from having to be rescued.
Why do we need an anti-trafficking group in D.C.?
The District of Columbia is listed as one of the top 10 places for trafficking in the United States. International trafficking is a major problem here. We’ve seen several major cases in the region. There are up to 25 girls identified per month as being sexually exploited.
How did you get involved?
When I was in college I studied abroad in Germany. I had a 19-year-old friend named Rafif, who was a mail-order bride. And she disappeared. It’s a very personal issue for me.
What happened to her?
I don’t know.
Given that D.C. is such an international place, does it make it harder to combat trafficking?
I think there’s a lot more work to be done. But there’s a very vibrant anti-trafficking community.
Has the international dimension gotten bigger or smaller over the last few years?
I think the international dimension has gotten more exposed. With the awareness raising, it’s not that the problem has gotten bigger, it’s that it’s gotten better understood. I’ve seen cases where the victim is not identified by a police officer, but by a neighbor who learned about trafficking from TV or the newspapers. But certainly globalization has played a role. It’s easier to move people in and out of countries.
What can an ordinary person do if he suspects there’s trafficking going on? They should call the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 888-373-7888.
