GW Anti-Human Trafficking Commitment

GW Commitment to Combating Trafficking in Persons

The George Washington University (“GW”) is opposed to human trafficking and forced labor in any form. Human trafficking violates GW’s Ethics Matter campaign and is against federal, District of Columbia, and Virginia laws. GW is committed to compliance with all applicable U.S. laws, regulations, and policies regarding combating trafficking in persons, including Federal Acquisitions Regulation (FAR) 52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons and FAR 52.222-56 Certification Regarding Trafficking in Persons Compliance Plan for federally funded contracts; Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR) Part 175 Award Term for Trafficking in Persons for federally funded grants and cooperative agreements; and USAID’s Standard Provision M20 regarding Trafficking in Persons for U.S. Nongovernmental Organizations for USAID funded grants and cooperative agreements.

What is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery, and sex trafficking.

Prohibition on Human Trafficking Related to GW's U.S. federal contracts and research projects

GW, its employees, its subcontractors/subrecipients, vendors, and their respective employees, labor recruiters, brokers, or other agents, are prohibited from engaging in human trafficking or practices related to human trafficking (“Prohibited Activities”). Prohibited Activities include, but are not limited to:

Engaging in severe forms of trafficking in persons during the period of performance (federal contracts) or that the award is in effect (federal grants or cooperative agreements);
Procuring commercial sex acts during the period of performance (federal contracts) or period of time that the award is in effect (federal grants or cooperative agreements);
Using forced labor in the performance of the award or subawards;
Destroying, concealing, confiscating, or otherwise denying access by an employee to his or her identity or immigration documents;
Using misleading or fraudulent recruitment practices;
Using recruiters that do not comply with local labor laws;
Charging employees or potential employees recruitment fees;
Failing to provide return transportation or pay for the cost of return transportation for certain employees upon the end of employment if requested by the employee;
Providing or arranging housing that fails to meet the host country housing and safety standards;
If required by law or contract, failing to provide an employment contract, recruitment agreement, or other required work document in writing.

Reporting Requirement

GW is required to report any violations of anti-trafficking requirements or credible information alleging human trafficking by an employee, subcontractor/subrecipient, vendor, or subcontractor/subrecipient or vendor employee, or their agent to the sponsoring federal agency, which may result in sanctions by the agency. GW must also fully cooperate with federal agencies regarding alleged human trafficking conduct and related audits, investigations, or corrective actions. Cooperation includes providing timely and complete responses to requests for documents, providing reasonable access to facilities and staff to conduct audits, and protecting all employees suspected of being victims of or witnesses to trafficking-related activities.

Resources

If you are in need of immediate assistance, call 911 or GW Emergency Services (202-994-6111)
If you are not in immediate danger, call the Title IX Office during normal business hours (202-994-7434) or the Sexual Assault & Intimate Violence (SAIV) Helpline for assistance after hours (202-994-7222).
Reports may also be made through the Global Human Trafficking Hotline (1-844-888-FREE or [email protected]).
Reports may also be made regarding an incident of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, or stalking.

Further information regarding state laws and policies, including how to recognize the potential signs of human trafficking, can be found at the following: