On September 30, 2026, I presented my human trafficking research at the United Nations 15th Crime Congress, held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Our Department Chair of Human Justice and Criminal Justice, Dr. Chuck Russo, was my partner for this presentation, hosted by the World Society of Victimology.
The theme for this international conference was “Protecting People and Planet in the Digital Age.” I spoke at the session called “From Climate Disasters to Human Trafficking Hotspots: A CRIMEATE Lens Across Three Continents.” From a global perspective, I shared my research on the impact of climate disasters on human trafficking and the vulnerabilities that exist for those people displaced due to natural disasters.
Traffickers commonly exploit these vulnerabilities following natural disasters and weather emergencies. For instance, people become displaced and are pushed further into poverty after such events. As a result, instability occurs and more people are likely to become human trafficking victims.
How Did I Get Invited to Speak to United Nations Members?
Combating human trafficking has been an important part of my life for a long time. In 2019, I started a prison ministry in Central America at Belize Central Prison. This initiative began by providing the only consistent training prison officers receive. Training topics included:
- Self-defense
- Communication skills
- Report writing
- Responses to emergencies such as riots, hostage-taking situations and inmate escapes
I then progressed to providing training and counseling to prison inmates as a form of rehabilitation. Along with helpers, I trained inmates on fatherhood during incarceration, anger management, and life skills training.
Some of these prison inmates were either incarcerated for trafficking or have firsthand knowledge of human trafficking operations. As part of their rehabilitation, I interviewed them with the idea that while they could not do anything for the victims they exploited in the past, future victims could be protected if they were willing to provide insights into human trafficking from their own firsthand experience.
The first human trafficking discussion I had with prison inmates occurred around 2020. Since that time, many inmates at Belize Central Prison and several inmates at U.S. prisons have opened my eyes into human trafficking.
I have gained a unique understanding of human trafficking through the lens of the traffickers responsible for it. One inmate that I interviewed was incarcerated for murder in a California prison over 20 years prior to deportation to his home country of Belize, which is where I met him.
This inmate provided me firsthand insights into sex trafficking because he worked as an enforcer in a stash house. He explained to me the inner workings of how cartels and gangs facilitate human trafficking.
Based on this interview, I wrote Human Trafficking: The Perspective of a Former Gang Member for the University’s blog on September 22, 2023. Within weeks, I was contacted by the U.S. Congress’s Committee on Homeland Security about this article. I was then invited to testify before the U.S. Congress on cartel operations involving human trafficking through the Southwest Border on November 14, 2023.
Based on additional insights gained from prison interviews involving human traffickers, I testified before the U.S. Senate on July 9, 2024 and before the U.S. Congress on June 30, 2026.
Expanding Human Trafficking Research in South America and in Asia
Due to the global nature of human trafficking, I expanded my research further. In addition to the United States and Central America, I did research in South America, Thailand, India, and Indonesia.
While providing an academic presentation in Coimbatore, India at the First International Conference on Digital Justice: Crime, Media & Cyber Realities in the 21st Century, I was asked if I would be interested in presenting my research before the United Nations. I gladly accepted – it was a great opportunity to raise awareness of human trafficking worldwide.
I was humbled and grateful for the opportunity to speak at the United Nations 15th Crime Congress and lend my expertise to the global discussion on human trafficking. To effectively combat human trafficking in countries around the world, it is critically important that we examine the factors that lead to trafficking and find ways to mitigate these risks through international cooperation.
My goal was not to simply present my research but to contribute to a broader discussion that fostered action, informed policy, and promoted global collaboration to increase protections for vulnerable populations impacted by climate disasters. I am really gratified for the unique opportunity to collaborate with dedicated individuals from around the world who share the common goal to end human trafficking.
About the Author
Dr. Jarrod Sadulski is an associate professor in the School of Security and Global Studies and has over 20 years in the field of criminal justice. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Thomas Edison State College, a master’s degree in criminal justice from American Military University, and a Ph.D. in criminal justice from Northcentral University.
His expertise includes training on countering human trafficking, maritime security, mitigating organized crime, and narcotics trafficking trends in Latin America. Jarrod has also testified to both the U.S. Congress and U.S. Senate on human trafficking and child exploitation. He has been recognized by the U.S. Senate and the United Nations 15th Crime Congress as an expert in human trafficking.
Jarrod frequently conducts in-country research and consultant work in Central and South America on human trafficking and current trends in narcotics trafficking. Also, he has a background in business development.
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