Libertas International Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome back to the Libertas International Podcast!

This week we talk with Tyson Wright, Founder of the International Coalition for Prevention and Empowerment.

Tyson talks about duty, and how he started this NGO due to promises he made to people who very much desired knowledge for prevention. During the interview he talks about how prevention matters, his work in Panama and Ecuador,  his work with indigenous people, addresses some controversial  topics regarding prevention, and how people can get involved in ensuring that prevention is something that is developed in communities over a long span of time.

As Tyson states, it really is a fight that everyone can be involved in. 

Here are some more information about human trafficking prevention and Tyson's NGO.

https://preventempower.org/our-story
https://cdapress.com/news/2024/sep/27/run-for-human-trafficking-victims/

https://panama.iom.int/en/news/panama-committed-fight-against-trafficking-persons-0

https://www.oas.org/ext/en/security/crime-prevention-network/Recursos/Multimedios/shame-silences-ecuadors-indigenous-people-trafficked-for-sex

https://www.alaskachildrenstrust.org/blog/unraveling-the-stories-of-sex-trafficking-innbspalaska

Bienvenidos a otro episodio del podcast de Libertas International, donde abordamos temas de justicia, protección y esperanza para las víctimas de trata de personas. Hoy tenemos el honor de contar con una invitada muy especial, una mujer increíblemente valiente que ha transformado su dolor en acción. Sarah Nicolle Gómez es una sobreviviente de trata de personas que, a pesar de haber enfrentado momentos inimaginables, ha decidido luchar por el bienestar de otras niñas y mujeres.

En este episodio, Sarah compartirá su inspiradora historia de supervivencia, cómo trabaja para proteger a las más vulnerables, y su compromiso con llevar a los abusadores ante la justicia. Además, nos hablará sobre cómo se está preparando para seguir sirviendo en el futuro y continuar su lucha por la libertad y la dignidad de todas.

Prepárense para una conversación poderosa, llena de resiliencia y esperanza. No se lo pierdan

Mas noticas sobre Sarah y Proyecto Bat Bridge.

https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/former-austin-teacher-sentenced-7-years-illicit-sexual-conduct-colombia-after-hsi

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx/pr/former-austin-isd-teacher-sentenced-seven-years-prison-illicit-sexual-conduct-colombia

https://www.telemundocentraltexas.com/2022/09/16/arrestan-hombre-de-texas-por-viajar-colombia-para-tener-relaciones-sexuales-con-menores/

https://www.elespectador.com/investigacion/la-condena-a-un-pedofilo-estadounidense-que-fue-a-medellin-de-turismo-sexual/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFMFztleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHclTvEPoa4D9OfiJ7SSZzGMyaQjO6kJMjH2sP97JBmB5rXLcf1Aol-OUYQ_aem_FOqnyQkXF_99Hj6PlgMdVA

Hola y bienvenidos a otro episodio de nuestro podcast! Hoy tenemos el honor de presentar a una invitada excepcional, Adriana Beatriz Hurtado, una trabajadora social con un currículum impresionante y una dedicación inquebrantable a la protección de los derechos humanos.

Adriana es egresada de la Universidad Minuto de Dios y especialista en enseñanza del inglés por la Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. Actualmente, está cursando una maestría en defensa de los derechos humanos en la Universidad Santo Tomás.

Su formación en trabajo social con un énfasis en pedagogía social la ha llevado a desempeñarse en el campo de la protección de la infancia y adolescencia en Colombia, siendo parte de un equipo psico-social comprometido con el bienestar de los jóvenes. Además, Adriana ha sido coordinadora técnica de hogares de protección para niños, niñas y adolescentes, asegurando un entorno seguro y de apoyo para los más vulnerables.

Pero su compromiso no se detiene ahí. Adriana también ha trabajado como voluntaria misionera, protegiendo a niños con discapacidad, al adulto mayor vulnerable y a pacientes terminales de SIDA, demostrando su compasión y dedicación a través de diversas áreas de necesidad.

Hoy, Adriana Beatriz nos acompaña para compartir sus experiencias, desafíos y la gratificante labor que realiza en Libertas International. ¡No se pierdan esta inspiradora conversación!

libertasinternational.org

We are happy to welcome Steve Adams from the National Center for Child Safety and Awareness! Steve spent 35 years in law enforcement and has been with the National Center for over 20 years. The center provides assemblies for children parents and teachers to offer training and education to keep kids safe from sexual abuse.

*Trigger warning- this episode contains details of sexual abuse and can be disturbing to listeners.

Here is the link to the Center's website-https://protectrkids.net/

Here is an interview between Steve and Tyler on Steve's radio program in the Sacramento area- https://www.therundown.org/show-recordings

In this episode, Tyler shares the case that started it all.

Victor Galarza and Herbert Fletcher were the two men that brought Libertas International to Colombia after they were traveling to Medellin to abuse young girls and upload the abuse to Pornhub. At current count, Project Eternal Spring has resulted the recovery of 9 survivors of human trafficking and numerous lawsuits vs. Mindgeek.

And they are still coming. At least once a year, a survivor will listen to a radio interview or read a news article about Libertas International and reach out for help after having been exploited by Galarza, Fletcher, and their friends.

The following are news articles about the crimes committed by Victor Galarza and Herbert Fletcher. Most of them are in Spanish.

https://www.alertapaisa.com/noticias/valle-de-aburra/medellin-recibe-los-peores-americanos-vestidos-de-turistas-organizacion

https://www.elcolombiano.com/medellin/condenado-herbert-fletcher-por-explotacion-sexual-de-menores-de-edad-en-medellin-BF21718922

https://www.wradio.com.co/2022/06/07/no-es-justo-que-pedofilos-viajen-a-colombia-a-abusar-gente-tyler-schwab-de-our/

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/04/opinion/sunday/pornhub-rape-trafficking.html?searchResultPosition=1

 Libertas is honored to be welcoming Alessandra Serano to the Libertas International Podcast!

*Content warning. Contains strong language.

Alessandra Serano rejoined the United States Department of Justice and currently serves as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division for the Eastern District of Virgina where she handles child exploitation cases and cyber related matters. 

Ms. Serano was previously employed by the United States Department of Justice in various roles for over 18 years.  From 2003-2017, Ms. Serano served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of California where she prosecuted child exploitation and trafficking cases as well as organized crime and gang-related cases involving narcotics, human and sex trafficking. She litigated numerous immigration and border related crimes, firearms offenses, and national security cases. From 2017-19, she worked at Main Justice as the Department of Justice's National Project Safe Childhood Coordinator in Washington D.C. where she served as a subject matter expert on child exploitation, human and sex trafficking involving minors, and other federal child sexual exploitation offenses. Ms. Serano also served as Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy where she worked on human trafficking policy for the Department.   From 2020-21, Ms. Serano served as the First Assistant United States Attorney and Criminal Chief for the U.S. Attorney’ s Office – District of the Virgin Islands.  Ms. Serano received numerous individual awards relating to her work and expertise in human trafficking including the U.S. Attorney General’s Award, the Federal Bar Association’s Hon. Sarah T. Hughes Civil Rights Award, and Women in Federal Law Enforcement’s “Top Prosecutor” Award. She has received several team awards including the Commissioner’s Award from the San Diego County Juvenile Justice Commission, Meritorious Unit Citation from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for Operation “Stolen Souls,” Investigative Team of the Year Award by the California Narcotic Officers’ Association, and Outstanding Overall Partnership Award by the U.S. Department of Justice.  Since 2014, Ms. Serano serves as an Adjunct Law Professor at the University of San Diego where she teaches an upper division class on human trafficking and child exploitation and guest lectures at the California Western School of Law and Georgetown Law.  Ms. Serano graduated magna cum laude from the University of Miami, School of Law in 1999, and received her B.A. in Political Science/Law & Society from the University of California, Riverside in 1993. She is currently working on her Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.  Ms. Serano is a licensed real estate broker in California and earned her private pilot's license.

Mr. Serano's work achieved over 150k in restitution for the survivors of Project Bat Bridge.
https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/former-aisd-teacher-sentenced-to-7-years-in-prison-for-paying-for-sex-with-columbian-girls-minor-children-federal-court-austin-isd-us-department-of-justice-attorney-medellin-columbia-round-rock-sadler-means-ywla-garcia-ymla-navarro-echs-indictment

A past case of her's when she was with the Department of Justice
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-1m30child235650-ex-teacher-37-arrested-child-porn--2008dec30-story.html

Welcome back to the Libertas International Podcast! 

Today, Tyler talks about one of his personal heroes and the most famous ring in Guatemala. A ring that represents not only education and empowerment but also represents a date where all of that as well as her freedom was made possible. 

This wonderful survivor is named Desi. She was featured in an earlier podcast and is part of the survivor leadership counsel at Libertas International 2024. And today, you will hear a version of that story in English similar to what she shared in Spanish episodes earlier. 

She is the "ring bearer" and we love her for it! 

For more information on Libertas International visit the following links. 

libertasfreedom.org 

Facebook- Libertas International 

Instagram @libertasinternational

X @libertasfreed

TikTok- Libertas International 

LinkedIn- Libertas International 

Bienvenidos al podcast de Libertas International!  En este programa, exploramos el impacto del trabajo incansable de mujeres inspiradoras en la sociedad. Hoy, nos honra presentar a Betty Pedraza Lozano, fundadora de la Corporación Espacios de Mujer en 2003 y directora de la organización desde entonces.

Desde su fundación, Betty ha liderado una lucha implacable contra la trata de personas en Colombia, transformando políticas y conciencias. Co-fundadora de la Alianza Colombiana de Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil contra la Trata de Personas, representa a esta alianza en la Alianza Global contra la Trata de Mujeres (GAATW).

A través de su organización, Betty ha llevado a cabo campañas de concientización pública, enfocadas en prevención, identificación de víctimas y servicios de apoyo. Ha establecido una "escuela" de formación para mujeres vulnerables, brindándoles conocimientos sobre sus derechos y cómo protegerse contra la trata de personas y otras formas de explotación. Además, su trabajo se centra en la capital colombiana, Medellín, y en el departamento de Antioquia.

Betty Pedraza Lozano ha sido fundamental en la integración del derecho internacional de los derechos humanos en Colombia, colaborando con organizaciones internacionales y el gobierno colombiano. En 2015, fue reconocida como Heroína en la Lucha contra la Esclavitud Moderna por su dedicación incansable en la lucha contra la trata de personas. Además, recibió el premio TIP (Trafficking in Persons) Hero Award del Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos, el más alto honor que puede recibir un defensor en contra de la trata de personas.

Únanse a nosotros mientras exploramos el legado y la labor continua de Betty Pedraza Lozano en la defensa de los derechos humanos y la lucha contra la trata de personas en Colombia. ¡Bienvenida, Betty!

http://www.tipheroes.org/betty-pedraza-lozano/

https://www.gaatw.org/resources/e-bulletin/815-interview-with-betty-pedraza-lozano-from-espacios-de-mujer

https://www.espaciosdemujer.org/

Libertas International is proud to have Brandon Merrill, the founder of Utah Homicide Survivors, a nonprofit based in Provo, Utah that serves surviving families of homicide victims. 

Under Brandon's leadership, UHS has grown to become a leading advocate for homicide survivors in Utah, offering a wide range of services to help families navigate the aftermath of tragedy. With years of experience working in the field of victim services, Brandon is dedicated to helping survivors heal and find justice. His passion for helping others and his commitment to making a difference in the lives of those affected by homicide are a driving force behind the success of Utah Homicide Survivors.

Brandon graduated from Utah Valley University in 2013, with a degree in International Politics. He moved to Vermont to attend Vermont Law School and study environmental law later that year. After taking his first environmental law class he decided that it wasn't the path for him. In order to graduate from law school he found an internship with the Never Again Foundation in Arizona, which sadly closed their doors in 2019. This organization taught him the importance of legal services for families of homicide victims and how to navigate the family through the numerous civil legal processes. After graduating from Vermont Law School in January 2016, Brandon worked as a divorce and custody mediator and a money laundering analyst while also continuing to volunteer for the Never Again Foundation. In August 2017, he took a staff position with the Never Again Foundation. In 2018, Brandon and his wife Karleigh moved to Utah to open a Utah chapter of the Never Again Foundation. In early 2019 the Never Again Foundation was hit hard with financial troubles and had to close their door permanently in March 2019. Brandon did not want to see the gap for homicide survivors re-open so he started Utah Homicide Survivors that same month where he serves as the Founder and Executive Director. 

Brandon details how he got started in this work, how he keeps himself sane in the work that he does and what are the factors that can lead to homicide.

Here is an event that Brandon puts on every year that honors victims of homicide-https://ksltv.com/589460/families-of-utah-homicide-victims-gather-to-support-each-other-for-national-day-of-remembrance/

A case Brandon was involved in involving a road rage homicide in Utah-https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/families-grieve-over-loved-ones-killed-in-road-rage-incidents

List of homicide victims in Utah-https://www.ksl.com/article/50567570/grim-tally-a-look-at-each-of-utahs-homicide-victims-of-2022 

This is a story of friendship, of love, and how the human spirit can brighten even the darkest of places. Baleigh Dellos joins the Libertas International Podcast to talk about why she went to Ukraine, what she accomplished while she was there, what the world really needs to know about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and how the connection between two people and the power of friendship can bring hope and love in the middle of a war zone. 

Baleigh Dellos is a dedicated advocate for social justice, focusing on sexual assault prevention, migrant rights, and combatting human trafficking. Beginning at Utah State University, she supported survivors of sexual assault and raised awareness on campus. Transitioning to migrant rights, she ran a shelter for migrant children, providing them with a safe space to heal and grow.

In Salt Lake City, Baleigh worked directly with human trafficking survivors, offering vital support and advocacy. She also played a crucial role in developing anti-trafficking programs, addressing root causes and supporting vulnerable populations. Taking her work globally, she collaborated with organizations and governments in Europe, particularly in Greece, Spain, and Ukraine, to establish comprehensive anti-trafficking strategies.

She lived in the Philippines and speaks fluently in their language.  

Baleigh's unwavering commitment to social justice and her tireless advocacy continue to inspire change and empower communities worldwide.

Here are the links to the organizations that are mentioned in the show as well as some additional show notes on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

https://www.saveukraineua.org/

libertasfreedom.org

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-2-years-what-to-know-d0f1c1bd57f7ebbe5f7335738acbc6b4

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/04/russia-ukraine-war-at-a-glance-what-we-know-on-day-740

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/28/opinions/ukraine-russia-war-define-victory-arutunyan/index.html