President's Peace Commission

Dr. Leona Pallansch welcomes the audience and introduces the President's Peace Commission. She also introduces Father Bernard Lee, S.M., Vice President for Mission and Identity at St. Mary's University, who offers up the opening prayer. A brief public service announcement is shown in both English and Spanish the topic of which is sexual exploitation of children; singer Ricky Martin speaks out against the exploitation of children. Following this PSA, a special prayer, which was distributed with the programs is prayed together by the audience, with Dr. Pallansch leading. Brother Ed Violett, S.M., moderates this panel discussion on behalf of St. Mary's University's President Dr. Charles Cotrell. Sister Barbara Paleczny, SSND, speaks first in this panel discussion explaining what trafficking is and in what areas it can be found: globalization, poverty, prostitution, agricultural work, domestic work, etc. Trafficking is the second largest organized crime ring in the world. Dottie Laster, a St. Mary's alum, is a volunteer who works with victims of trafficking. She shares some victims' stories. The discussion is concluded with a question and answer session. (69 minutes)

Sister Ann Semel, SSND, welcomes the audience and panelists and moderates this session. A brief public service announcement is shown in both English and Spanish the topic of which is sexual exploitation of children; singer Ricky Martin speaks out against the exploitation of children. Following this PSA, a special prayer, which was distributed with the programs is prayed together by the audience, with Sr. Ann leading the recitation. Sr. Ann introduces the speakers: Ambassador Charles A. Ray, currently the Diplomat in Residence at the University of Houston, and Kathi West, Victim-Witness Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney's Office. Ambassador Ray speaks about his experiences and observations as a U.S. diplomat to Cambodia in 2002. He reports on the commercial sex industry, which at the time was quite bustling in Cambodia, in which nearly 80 percent of trafficked persons are women, roughly 50 percent of those women are children. Kathi West addresses questions such as how the victims and witnesses deal with the stress (often with self-loathing, suicide, shame, depression, drug and/or alcohol use); what major obstacles or problems are there if the trafficked person runs away or cooperates with law enforcement (many feel an intense need to be sending funds back home, regardless of the danger); and how do victims and witnesses move forward (learn English, find legal employment, get an education, etc.). (70 minutes)

Dr. Leona Pallansch introduces a brief public service announcement, which is shown in both English and Spanish the topic of which is sexual exploitation of children; singer Ricky Martin speaks out against the exploitation of children. Following this PSA, a special prayer, which was distributed with the programs is prayed together by the audience, with Dr. Pallansch leading. Dr. Alejandro Velez introduces and welcomes Amy LeMar, from the Department of Justice's Victims of Crime Office. Ms. LeMar speaks about the economic aspects of human trafficking. She comments on the benefits of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act passed in 2000 and the Reauthorization of that act in 2005. A question and answer period follows her comments. (56 minutes)

Dr. Leona Pallansch welcomes the audience, provides some history of the President's Peace Commission, moderates the session and introduces Terry Coonan, the Executive Director of the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights at Florida State University, and Amy LeMar, from the U.S. Department of Justice's Victims of Crime Office. Mr. Coonan talks about the current laws regarding human trafficking in the United States. Ms. LeMar provides background regarding the recent history of human trafficking. A question and answer segment concludes this panel discussion. (90 minutes)

Andy Hill welcomes the audiences, plays the brief public service announcement by singer Ricky Martin, who speaks out against the sexual exploitation of children in both English and Spanish, and then leads the audience in the recitation of a prayer found in their programs. Mr. Hill then introduces Brother Steve O'Neill of the Marianist NGO. Brother Steve shows a 29 minute video which discusses the vulnerabilities trafficked women and children face. He then speaks briefly about the topic. A question and answer session concludes this panel. (52 minutes)

Kavita Bhalla, student at St. Mary's University, moderates this session. First the brief public service announcement by singer Ricky Martin is shown in both English and Spanish speaking out against the sexual exploitation of children. Then Ms. Bhalla leads the audience in recitation of the prayer found in the program. Ms. Bhalla then introduces the guest speaker for this session: Dr. Patricia Owen, Chair of the Psychology Department at St. Mary's University. Dr. Owen speaks about the current sex trade issues in Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin American, and the United States. She also shares a 60 Minutes television program segment about the Thailand's sex tourism, which exposes underage girls in the sex trade. (45 minutes)

Dr. Richard Pressman moderates this session. A brief public service announcement featuring singer Ricky Martin speaking out against the sexual exploitation of children is shown in both English and Spanish. Dr. Pressman leads the audience in the recitation of the prayer found in the program. Dr. Pressman then introduces the guest speaker for this panel, Terry Coonan, Executive Director of the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights at Florida State University. Mr. Coonan speaks about some of the cases he and his Center have handled, including details about the Cadena family brothels, which were masterminded by an older woman in Mexico and run by her adult sons in Florida. A question and answer period concludes the presentation. (48 minutes)

Migdalia Garcia, a President's Peace Commissioner, welcomes the audience and panel. A brief public service announcement by singer Ricky Martin speaking out against the sexual exploitation of children is shown in both English and Spanish. Ms. Garcia then leads the audience in the special prayer which was located in the programs. Ms. Garcia then introduces the speakers for this panel from the South Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking: Sister Barbara Paleczny, Hilary Chester, Miranda Guerrero, and Regina Rodriguez, who each speak briefly about the educational outreach they provide and is provided by the Rescue and Restore Program. (48 minutes)

The St. Mary's University Jazz Band plays a few numbers. Dr. Richard Pressman discusses Sr. Barbara Paleczny's work. Father Bernard Lee prays a prayer of peace and presents the award to Sr. Barbara. Sr. Barbara thanks the President's Peace Commission and explains how she began painting and drawing. The session is concluded with more selections from the Jazz Band. Sr. Barbara Paleczny, a School Sister of Notre Dame, is an academic, teacher, gadfly, peace worker, polemicist, author, and painter. Of Canadian origin, Sr. Barbara has lived in England, Bolivia, and now San Antonio. Daughter of two garment workers, she has published three books, the most recent being Clothed in Integrity: Weaving Just Cultural Relations and the Garment Industry. Her social-justice paintings have been exhibited regionally and nationally. (60 minutes)