On today’s episode of The “Center” we’re joined by Dr. George Belitsos, current chair of the Board of Directors for the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery. Dr. George, as he is affectionately referred to by colleagues and friends, is the founder and Executive Director - Emeritus of Youth and Shelter Services (YSS) based in Ames, IA. It was Dr. George’s experience with at-risk youth at YSS, including LGBTQIA+ youth who were often forced into situations of human trafficking, that led Dr. George to found the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery, a statewide organization that advocates for legislation that protects those victimized by human trafficking in all of its forms. Since its founding in 2005, INAHT has worked to have 20+ pieces of legislation passed in the state of Iowa, including legislation that increases the number of penalties a person convicted of trafficking can face if convicted under human trafficking charges, and Safe Harbor legislation which protects underage persons victimized by human trafficking.
Resources
To learn more about the work that the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery is doing in the state of Iowa, visit: https://iowanaht.org/
The Polaris project provides a summary of how LGBTQIA+ children and youth are impacted by human trafficking. You can read the summary here: https://polarisproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/LGBTQ-Sex-Trafficking.pdf
Iowan Pieper Lewis was sold into human trafficking at the age of 15 and then stabbed and killed the 37-year-old man who “bought” and kept Lewis captive by drugging and raping her. Lewis was sentenced to probation in 2022, and after enduring abuse in the shelter where she was being held, she left the facility, breaking her probation. Lewis was re-sentenced to probation in 2023 but again escaped the living facility in Georgia that she was remanded to. In response to a warrant being issued for Ms. Lewis’ capture and arrest, the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery co-signed a letter addressed to Iowa Department of Corrections officials requesting that the warrant be revoked, and instead that Lewis be designated as an “Endangered Person.” The letter can be read on INAHT’s website here: https://iowanaht.org/letter-attachment-pieper-lewis-update/