International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 9, 2018 25
law, from being prosecuted for crimes they were
forced to commit.
363F
364 In 2007, the New York
legislature passed a statute that establishes an
interagency task force, including the Division of
Criminal Justice Service and the Office for
Temporary and Disability Assistance.
364F
365
Currently, eight other state agencies participate
in the task force.
365F
366 Charges of the unified
taskforce include the collection of data on the
nature of human trafficking, and the
identification of programs for victims.
366F
367 The
resources being spent developing these programs
could be shared with programs supporting
former cult members if cults are held
accountable under the justice system.
2. Training Programs
Training programs educating attendees about
trafficking prevention are now being offered
abroad and in the United States, and they should
continue to be developed. They should also be
expanded to include information about
destructive cults. Educators, hospital
administrators, and others who are in frequent
contact with immigrants and other populations
vulnerable to trafficking should be trained to
recognize the signs of trafficking.
367F
368
Specifically, training in the professional fields of
“health, education, immigration, labor and
employment, social service, and corporate
sectors”
368F
369 is needed. In the United States, the
Department of Justice provides funding for
human trafficking task forces, which pool
together resources from law enforcement,
prosecutorial offices, women services, housing
shelters, public health agencies, and other
agencies.
369F
370
The trafficking task forces should become
familiar with International Cultic Studies
Association’s (“ICSA”) work with cultic groups.
364 See id.
365 Id.
366 N.Y. ST. OFF. OF THE ATT’Y GEN., Fighting Human Trafficking
in New York State, http://www.ag.ny.gov/ht/fighting-human-
trafficking-new-york-state (last visited Apr. 24, 2016).
367 See id.
368 See HYLAND &SREEHARSHA, supra note 240, at 4.
369 Id.
370 Id. at 39.
Formed in 1979, ICSA provides extensive
counseling services and public education about
cults.
370F
371 Although based in the United States, it
has been holding conferences internationally.
ICSA is “a global network of people concerned
about psychological manipulation and abuse in
cultic or high-demand groups, alternative
movements, and other environments.”
371F
372 ICSA
offers help to former members of cultic groups
and their families. Through international and
domestic conferences, as well as small group
workshops, ICSA provides education about
cultic groups.
372F
373 It also fosters research and
publications through its academic journals.
373F
374
ICSA’s website includes an extensive library of
articles and books.
374F
375
Another resource for cultic members and their
families is Info Secte Cult in Montreal,
Canada.
375F
376 “Info Secte Cult is a non-profit
charitable organization founded in 1980 based in
Montreal (Quebec, Canada) that offers help and
information about cults, new religious
movements and related groups and subjects.”
376F
377
Info Secte Cult, like ICSA, provides an online
library.
377F
378
3. Providing Victims’ Rights to Former Cult
Members
As victims’ rights continue to develop abroad
and in the United States, they should be
considered in the cult context as well. Under
both international and U.S. law, trafficked
victims are protected from being prosecuted for
crimes they were forced to commit.
378F
379 In the
international arena, the Recommended
Principles and Guidelines advises that
“trafficked persons [should not be] prosecuted
for violations of immigration laws or for the
activities they are involved in as a direct
371 INT’L CULTIC STUD. ASS’N, supra note 6.
372 Id.
373 See generally id.
374 Id.
375 Id.
376 INFO SECTE CULT, www.infocult.org (last visited May 10,
2016).
377 Id.
378 Id.
379 See U.N. Fact Sheet 36, supra note 249, at 17.
law, from being prosecuted for crimes they were
forced to commit.
363F
364 In 2007, the New York
legislature passed a statute that establishes an
interagency task force, including the Division of
Criminal Justice Service and the Office for
Temporary and Disability Assistance.
364F
365
Currently, eight other state agencies participate
in the task force.
365F
366 Charges of the unified
taskforce include the collection of data on the
nature of human trafficking, and the
identification of programs for victims.
366F
367 The
resources being spent developing these programs
could be shared with programs supporting
former cult members if cults are held
accountable under the justice system.
2. Training Programs
Training programs educating attendees about
trafficking prevention are now being offered
abroad and in the United States, and they should
continue to be developed. They should also be
expanded to include information about
destructive cults. Educators, hospital
administrators, and others who are in frequent
contact with immigrants and other populations
vulnerable to trafficking should be trained to
recognize the signs of trafficking.
367F
368
Specifically, training in the professional fields of
“health, education, immigration, labor and
employment, social service, and corporate
sectors”
368F
369 is needed. In the United States, the
Department of Justice provides funding for
human trafficking task forces, which pool
together resources from law enforcement,
prosecutorial offices, women services, housing
shelters, public health agencies, and other
agencies.
369F
370
The trafficking task forces should become
familiar with International Cultic Studies
Association’s (“ICSA”) work with cultic groups.
364 See id.
365 Id.
366 N.Y. ST. OFF. OF THE ATT’Y GEN., Fighting Human Trafficking
in New York State, http://www.ag.ny.gov/ht/fighting-human-
trafficking-new-york-state (last visited Apr. 24, 2016).
367 See id.
368 See HYLAND &SREEHARSHA, supra note 240, at 4.
369 Id.
370 Id. at 39.
Formed in 1979, ICSA provides extensive
counseling services and public education about
cults.
370F
371 Although based in the United States, it
has been holding conferences internationally.
ICSA is “a global network of people concerned
about psychological manipulation and abuse in
cultic or high-demand groups, alternative
movements, and other environments.”
371F
372 ICSA
offers help to former members of cultic groups
and their families. Through international and
domestic conferences, as well as small group
workshops, ICSA provides education about
cultic groups.
372F
373 It also fosters research and
publications through its academic journals.
373F
374
ICSA’s website includes an extensive library of
articles and books.
374F
375
Another resource for cultic members and their
families is Info Secte Cult in Montreal,
Canada.
375F
376 “Info Secte Cult is a non-profit
charitable organization founded in 1980 based in
Montreal (Quebec, Canada) that offers help and
information about cults, new religious
movements and related groups and subjects.”
376F
377
Info Secte Cult, like ICSA, provides an online
library.
377F
378
3. Providing Victims’ Rights to Former Cult
Members
As victims’ rights continue to develop abroad
and in the United States, they should be
considered in the cult context as well. Under
both international and U.S. law, trafficked
victims are protected from being prosecuted for
crimes they were forced to commit.
378F
379 In the
international arena, the Recommended
Principles and Guidelines advises that
“trafficked persons [should not be] prosecuted
for violations of immigration laws or for the
activities they are involved in as a direct
371 INT’L CULTIC STUD. ASS’N, supra note 6.
372 Id.
373 See generally id.
374 Id.
375 Id.
376 INFO SECTE CULT, www.infocult.org (last visited May 10,
2016).
377 Id.
378 Id.
379 See U.N. Fact Sheet 36, supra note 249, at 17.
