By: Kaitlyn Lancaster
My name is Kaitlyn Lancaster, and I am a current 2L Juris Doctorate Candidate at Regent University School of Law. Throughout my childhood I had a substantial interest in learning about Jewish history and culture, particularly related to the Holocaust. Every book I read at that time was focused on the Holocaust, how Germany allowed Hitler to gain control, and how the rest of society let this happen to their fellow community members.
As I grew older, my interest in this area grew also. I was a 1L student on October 7, 2023, when Hamas conducted an unprecedented attack on Israel, took hostages, and murdered many. The powerlessness and inability to process the events invaded my mind for days, weeks, and even months to follow.
In the fall of my 2L year, I took an International Trafficking in Persons course, with Professor Kathleen McKee, hoping to gain more knowledge on international roles of the treatments of persons across the world. This course was utilized to fulfill a rigorous writing requirement necessary for graduation in which I could write on any human trafficking issue within certain parameters. After in class discussion on the elements of the human trafficking paradigm, my thoughts were provoked as I began connecting the similarities to the human trafficking paradigm and the hostage taking circumstances during the October 7th attack. With the help of Professor McKee and many hours of research, I completed an independent study, putting forth the similarities and citing the remedies that are afforded to the hostage survivors, and their families, both from Israel, and on a global scale.
I have also worked closely with Professor Kohm who assisted me in the publishing process. I contacted the Times of Israel, who invited me to post my findings as a series to their website as a Blog Editor.
During this process, I have been working with the Center for Global Justice at Regent University on human trafficking vacatur laws in Virginia. I am excited to continue my work with the Center in the fall of my 3L year, as well as taking the Human Trafficking Clinic with Professor Kelsey which will allow me to further my understanding of human trafficking and represent current survivors in their vacatur petitions.
Ultimately, my goal is to bring awareness, on both a local and global scale, on a topic that has yet to be discussed. Hostages taken on October 7th do meet each and every element of human trafficking, and because of this, victims are owed remedies internationally.
This post was written by a student at Regent University School of Law. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.