Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney Lindy Borchardt envisions a future free from human trafficking. Until then, she remains committed to prosecuting traffickers and seeking justice for victims. In April, Borchardt joined a seasoned human trafficking team on a mission to Indonesia and Nepal, sponsored by the nonprofit Unbound Now. The team aimed to share effective investigation and prosecution strategies with local authorities.
“I appreciated the opportunity to learn about human trafficking on an international level and share some of our successes in fighting human trafficking,” Borchardt said.
The team included 74th District Judge Gary Coley, McLennan County Assistant DA Liz Buice, and Andrea Sparks from Buckner International. They began in Jakarta, Indonesia, emphasizing victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches. They stressed the importance of cross-sector cooperation during a seminar and round table discussion, which included judges, investigators, and prosecutors.
Next, they traveled to Kathmandu, Nepal, where they conducted a two-day workshop. They focused on effective strategies and insights that could assist the Nepali justice system in handling human trafficking cases.
“Even though our justice systems are different, we share a deep commitment to ending human trafficking in our countries,” said Susan Peters, founder and chief advisor of Unbound Now. “The exchange of knowledge and experience was invaluable.”
Indonesia is a major destination for human trafficking, impacting men, women, and children. Victims are trafficked in Indonesia and across the world.
The International Labor Organization reported in 2022 that there were an estimated 27.6 million victims of forced labor worldwide in 2020, including over 10,500 in the United States.
In 2023, Borchardt was honored by Unbound Now with its Three Key Award for her efforts in prosecuting human trafficking cases and seeking justice for victims in Tarrant County.
