For the eighth year in a row, the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) has partnered with Houston-based United Against Human Trafficking (UAHT) to raise awareness, educate, and combat human trafficking. This year’s 4-day conference will take place 2–5 May at NRG Center in Houston.
“For more than 50 years, OTC has proudly called Houston home, safely bringing together industry professionals and thought leaders to deliberate on the latest challenges and issues facing the offshore energy sector,” said Paul Jones, chair of the OTC Board of Directors. “We are pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with UAHT to raise awareness and educate attendees about human trafficking in an effort to prevent the act of human exploitation while empowering survivors.”
UAHT combats trafficking in the Houston area through educating the community, including business professionals and first responders, and working with youth and at-risk people to prevent exploitation. The organization also provides trauma-informed care and support groups for survivors. UAHT will also be hosting an educational booth to help attendees identify the early warning signs of human and labor trafficking.
“At United Against Human Trafficking, we are dedicated to providing our community with the tools and resources to recognize and prevent human trafficking,” said UAHT CEO Timeka Walker. “We appreciate OTC for their continued support and for providing us a forum to spread our message to end human exploitation.”
Over the course of OTC, energy professionals from around the world will have the opportunity to network, visit displays of nearly one thousand exhibitors, and access more than 300 peer-selected technical presentations that leverage the collective knowledge of OTC’s 13 sponsoring societies and cover topics and issues across the offshore energy sector.
“As the energy capital of the world, Houston is proud to welcome companies and individuals from around the globe to OTC. It is a place where the best and brightest minds, including government officials, company executives, industry experts, and thought leaders in the energy space, come together to share insights and collaborate on the industry’s most pressing challenges,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. “The talented workforce that supports the energy industry in Houston and worldwide plays a significant role in building a low-carbon energy future. It is exciting to see and hear about the technological advancements answering society’s need to meet global energy demand while significantly reducing emissions.”