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December 4, 2009

Hanser presents at International Human Trafficking Prevention Conference in Taiwan

University of Louisiana at Monroe associate professor and criminal justice department head, Dr. Rob Hanser, was a guest speaker at the 2009 International Conference on the Prevention of Human Trafficking from Nov. 20-27 in Taipei, Taiwan.

The National Police University of Taiwan hosted the conference with support from Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency.

Hanser’s presentation addressed the role of non-governmental organizations in providing services to victims of human trafficking. He was asked to present on this topic because of his research expertise in this area of criminal activity, his past experience with non-governmental organizations and his work in multinational research in East Asia.

“The exploitation of women and children in relation to sex offenses has long been one of my key areas of expertise in research,” Hanser said. “Human trafficking is often related to the illicit sex industry and women and children are the most common victims of that industry.”

While there, Hanser was also asked by officials of the Police College of Taiwan to present on community policing techniques in northeast Louisiana. His presentation paper was also published in a local journal on police issues.

“I am both honored and grateful to have this opportunity to showcase what we do in our own region of the United States, and to be able to learn from fellow colleagues, scholars and practitioners of multinational policing issues,” he said.

Hanser was also able to secure support for future research projects related to human trafficking and community perceptions of police services. He indicated it is likely that ULM graduate students in the criminal justice department will be involved in this research, resulting in the department’s first official research in the East Asian region.

“I think that this is yet another example of why we should broaden out our definition of community to include friends from around the globe,” he said. “The possibilities are limitless and the doors of opportunity abound for our students and our own local community of northeast Louisiana.”

The Organization Committee for each of these events paided all expenses in addition to a speaker’s fee, which Hanser will donate to the ULM Institute of Law Enforcement.

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