Breaking the Global Patterns of Control, Hidden Harm, and Gendered Exploitation

On March 11, 2026, Restoration for All, Inc. (REFA) and Village Wellness International (VWI) hosted a virtual International Women's Day event. It was presented in partnership with AFEGE, Progressive Individual Resources, the Minnesota Department of Health, and the United Nations. The event explored how fear is weaponized into violence against women, and how communities can disarm it before it harms.

Objectives

The event set out to help participants understand how fear fuels systems of control, recognize hidden forms of gender-based harm such as human trafficking, examine the mental health impacts of silence and stigma, and build community-based solutions.

Highlights and Outcomes

Keynote speaker Madelyn Hanson, Anti-Trafficking Program Supervisor at Citizens Against Sex Trafficking (CAST), explained how traffickers exploit vulnerability. She covered the heightened fear in immigrant communities and the rapid growth of online exploitation. Participants left better able to recognize the warning signs of trafficking and equipped with a simple framework for supporting survivors: Observe, Affirm, Report, Support. They also learned about key resources, including the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

The Role of Village Wellness International

VWI is a leading partner in the global fight against human trafficking. It co-hosts the World Summit on Human Trafficking, Femicide, and Gender-Based Violence. Following the first summit in Palermo, Sicily, VWI joined REFA and AFEGE to co-host the second World Summit, held August 31 to September 3, 2026, in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Through this work, VWI connects local communities with international expertise and champions the holistic, long-term healing survivors need to rebuild their lives.