Katariina
Katariina has a personal testimony of God's protection from being solicited for sale at the age of 13, she was drugged and left for dead, here in the US and feels a sincere call and passion to rescue others who are trapped and caught in this life. "God saved me so that I can help save others who are caught up in the life."
She holds an LL.M. (Masters of Law) degree in Intercultural Human Rights from St. Thomas Law School and is a 3rd year PhD student in Conflict Analysis & Resolution. While there, she was a member of the Intercultural Human Rights Law Review on Global Human Trafficking and Child Soldiering. Her professors have included human rights activists and experts from well known institutions such as: the UN, the ICRC, Judges from the Hague (Human Rights Court), and various other experts and law makers in the human trafficking and human rights fields.
She has ongoing speaking engagements on the issues of domestic abuse and human trafficking and has recently completed interviews on WAFG 90.3 FM and Reach 100.3 FM, NBC 6 News. She has recently completed her latest practicum work with Not For Sale and His House Children's Home in continuing to build the faith network around the issue and rallying support from the faith community to help provide shelter and ministry to domestic victims of minor sex trafficking.
She has published articles on domestic violence and human trafficking. She has also written a piece and participated in panel discussions on women’s human rights in the US compared to Finland which was included in a book entitled Women Moving Forward Vol. II, with all proceeds going to benefit victims of human trafficking. She has also completed her masters thesis on Domestic Violence in the church, highlighting sexual assault and trafficking. She is an adjunct faculty for a university teaching Race and Ethnic Relations and Communications.
She currently volunteers with the State Ad Hoc Committee on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking to bring awareness and make a direct impact in the lives of those who may be affected by human trafficking here in Florida. Her previous roles and responsibilities in the community have included reaching out to churches, faith based organizations, universities and others to provide awareness on Human Trafficking as well as being a voice for the voiceless on legislative issues pertaining to Domestic victims of Minor Sex Trafficking.
She has also made an impact by bringing the light of the Gospel into dark areas and as a result, she has seen captives set free: in correctional facilities, truck stops, strip clubs, prostitution tracks, children within the school system and children within the foster care system.
Katariina is available to gives talks to schools, churches, youth organizations, rehabilitation facilities to talk about the dangers connected with domestic abuse and human trafficking in hopes of making an impact in the lives of future generations and seeing more children set free. Photo by Lauren Seibert
Areas of Expertise
- Domestic Violence
- Human Trafficking
- Sex Trafficking
- Ethnic Relations
- Conflict Analysis and Resolution