HSI and GCHT

Research

The Global Center on Human Trafficking (GCHT), housed within Montclair State University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences, serves as a cross-disciplinary research hub in the global effort to combat human trafficking.

Montclair began its important work to address all forms of human trafficking in 2018 and GCHT has brought together research faculty from across campus to conduct research, develop programming, and influence policies that drastically and measurably reduce human trafficking and other forms of exploitation. Through our research, we contribute to a better understanding of global human trafficking in an interdisciplinary and comprehensive context.

Our researchers work with community partners to inform policy and practice as we seek to understand the forces that drive human trafficking in the U.S. and abroad. Recognizing that a survivor-informed perspective in human trafficking research is underrepresented in existing anti-trafficking research, we are dedicated to a survivor-led approach that goes beyond simply including survivor voices. Survivors are at the forefront of our research initiatives, actively participating in every aspect of our projects, from inception to dissemination.

Our aim is to challenge existing norms and create a model of research that is not just survivor-informed but survivor-driven. This approach is not just a moral obligation but a strategic decision for more effective, ethical, and impactful outcomes in the fight against human trafficking

Associated and Affiliated Research Faculty

Associated Research Faculty

Francesca Laguardia profile photo

Francesca Laguardia

Professor

Phone
973-655-5149
Email
laguardiaf@montclair.edu
Location
Dickson Hall, 316
Daniela Peterka-Benton profile photo

Daniela Peterka-Benton

Associate Professor

Phone
973-655-7557
Email
peterkabentd@montclair.edu
Location
Dickson Hall, 323
Laura Quiros profile photo

Laura Quiros

Associate Professor

Email
quirosl@montclair.edu

Research partnership with Montclair’s Center for Research and Evaluation on Education and Human Services

The GCHT, as a subrecipient of a federal grant to the International Organization for Adolescents (IOFA), has also partnered  with  the Center for Research and Evaluation on Education and Human Services (CREEHS) at Montclair, to provide program evaluation services to the New Futures Mentoring Program. This initiative is funded by a three-year FY21 Preventing Trafficking of Girls Grant (O-OVC-2021-59003) grant from the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

Affiliated Research Faculty and Administrators

Bond Benton
Nancy Coba
Elenice De Souza Oliveira
Emily Douglas
Elizabeth Emery
Maneesha Kelkar
Peter Kingstone
Joseph Oluwole
Jessica Restaino
Marissa Silverman
Kenneth Sumner

GCHT Research News


Projects Reports and Publications

Grants:

  • Peterka-Benton, D., Yang, L., Robinson, C. (2023). Human Trafficking in Ghana – Perspectives from the United Nations. ​​CHSS Interdisciplinary Groups Award
  • Boak, A., Peterka-Benton, D. (2023). The Possibilities Program—Building Human Trafficking Survivor Leadership. Funder: Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey.
  • Boak, A., Callahan-Harrison, B., Douglass, E., Ramos, I., Salvatore, C., (2022) Legislative Breakfast:  Addressing Human Trafficking in New Jersey: Policy, Research, and Practice. ​​CHSS Interdisciplinary Groups Award.
  • Peterka-Benton, D., Rafiefar, M., Boak, A. (2022). “We Are More Than Our Stories”. CHSS Interdisciplinary Groups Award.
  • Boak, A. (2021) Comprehensive Campus Response to Human Trafficking (2021) CHSS Interdisciplinary Groups Award.
  • Boak, A., Kyse, E. (2021) Prevention of Girls Trafficking, United States Department of Justice, Office of Victims of Crime (OVC), Sub-Award
  • D’Urso, A., Laguardia, F. & Peterka-Benton, D. (2020-2021) Understanding Human Trafficking in New Jersey: An Analysis of Data Collection. Funder: New Jersey Commission on Human Trafficking/Division of Criminal Justice

We welcome submissions of short, narrowly focused articles of contemporary interest related to human trafficking. Submissions undergo editorial review and should be submitted to: Daniela Peterka-Benton, peterkabentd@montclair.edu