Pacific Survivors Center

Pacific Survivor Center (PSC) is a Hawaii-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of survivors of torture, human trafficking, and related human rights abuses. The services they provide include health care, outreach, social services, and training. Josh Holloway, the star of ABC's hit show Lost, has recently worked with PSC and the Hawaii Coalition to produce a Public Service Announcement to help inform the public AbOUT the horrors of human trafficking .

Health Care

Survivors of human trafficking and torture have diverse medical issues, many of which have never been previously addressed. They suffer from pre-existing medical conditions ranging from hypertension to asthma to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria. They also suffer physical problems that are a direct result of the trauma they suffered; these can include headaches, musculoskeletal injuries, gastrointestinal complaints, genitourinary problems such as sexually transmitted diseases and physical injury, dental problems, and hearing and visual loss.

In addition to the above issues, many survivors suffer from somatic manifestations of post-traumatic stress disorder, including diffuse pain, insomnia, nightmares and flashbacks, as well as depression and severe anxiety.

Difficulty with language, unfamiliarity with the health care system, mistrust of authorities and cost are all barriers to survivors accessing adequate and appropriate care

Outreach

Advocacy: PSC is dedicated to efforts to change policy and practice at the local, national, and international levels to facilitate the healing of survivors of human trafficking and torture. PSC promotes and facilitates dialogue between policy makers and non-government organizations to create a robust anti-trafficking and torture public policy ensuring the protection of survivors' fundamental human rights.

Public Awareness: Raising public awareness for the rights of human trafficking and torture survivors is key to the success of the anti-trafficking and torture movements. Education initiatives are directed towards the general public and individuals that are particularly vulnerable to these crimes. PSC utilizes many different modes of communication, including public service announcements, media campaigns, informational brochures, educational campaigns directed towards schools and universities, and community partnerships.

Prevention: PSC collaborates with local and international partners to reduce the risk of trafficking in vulnerable communities. Our prevention efforts include improving educational and economic opportunities, particularly for girls and women, in high-risk regions.

Social Services

PSC is committed to the self-sufficiency of all survivors of human trafficking and torture. In collaboration with local service providers, PSC assists survivors to access food, clothing, shelter, legal services, interpretation services, transportation and other public benefits as needed. PSC also maintains an emergency fund for survivors if immediate assistance is required and survivors are not eligible for available public benefits. To promote the mental well-being and independence of survivors, PSC also offers referrals to a multitude of services including job training, employment, English as a second language (ESL) classes, educational programs and art therapy

Training

Health care providers and other frontline social service providers are crucial to the discovery, rescue and subsequent provision of appropriate care to victims of human trafficking and torture. To this end, PSC trains local, national, and international health care providers, NGO's, and government entities, in order to build capacity in their organizations to recognize and provide for these vulnerable populations

Recent Awards

September 19, 2008: Major General Antonio Taguba, U.S. Army (Ret.) and Pacific Survivor Center were awarded the "Keeper of the Flame Award" by Na Loio Immigrant Rights & Public Interest Legal Center during their 25th Anniversary celebration .

External Sources