Shared Hope International Awards Richmond for Outstanding Leadership to Curb Human Trafficking
ARLINGTON, VA. – Pursing justice for human trafficking crimes is more than his life’s work; it is a passion for John Cotton Richmond. As a federal prosecutor serving as the Special Litigation Counsel with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, Richmond has investigated and prosecuted numerous victim-centered labor and sex trafficking cases throughout the United States. He frequently serves as an expert on human trafficking for the United Nation’s Working Group on Trafficking in Persons and at the European Union’s multilateral meetings on human trafficking. He has trained judges, prosecutors, federal agents, law enforcement officers, non-governmental organizations, and international delegations on human trafficking investigative and prosecutorial strategies. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, John worked on human trafficking crimes as the Director of the International Justice Mission’s slavery work in India.
“John was at the forefront of human trafficking investigations before the term was being used in most countries,” Shared Hope International President and Founder Linda Smith said. “His relentless pursuit of justice for victims of trafficking is inspiring and emboldens others to follow his lead.”
John’s work to combat human trafficking has earned numerous other honors, including: being named one of the “Prosecutors of the Year” by the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation, receiving the David Allred Award for Exceptional Contributions to Civil Rights, twice earning the Department of Homeland Security’s Outstanding Investigative Accomplishments in a Human Trafficking Award, winning the Distinguished Law Enforcement Teamwork Award from the Federal Executive Board, as well as twice receiving the Department of Justice’s Special Commendation Award.
The 2015 Pathbreaker Award recipients also include Alexandra (Sandi) Pierce (Othayonih Research) and Sheriff Thomas Dart (Cook County Sheriff’s Office). The awards will be presented at Shared Hope International’s JuST Conference on November 12 in Washington, D.C.
History of the Award: In 2000, the U.S. Department of State engaged Shared Hope International to hold Pathbreaking Strategies Conferences in six countries to energize the global conversation and share innovative approaches to combat trafficking. During this process, the Pathbreaker Award was established to recognize the pioneering efforts of individuals throughout the world who broke the trend of inaction and initiated proactive responses to prevent trafficking. See all Pathbreaker Award recipients.
Media Materials: For media convenience, a variety of video clips and resources, including survivor comments, are available at this location: http://vimeo.com/user12564384/albums. Clips are password protected, please contact Taryn Offenbacher at Taryn@sharedhope.org for access.
Shared Hope International was established in 1998, by former U.S. Congresswoman Linda Smith, to prevent, restore, and bring justice to women and children in crisis. We provide leadership in awareness, training, prevention strategies, restorative care, research, and policy initiatives. www.sharedhope.org
For more information contact Taryn Offenbacher at (602) 818-3955 or taryn@sharedhope.org.
