As Manhattan District Attorney, Cyrus Vance Jr. created the first-ever Human Trafficking Program at the New York County District Attorney’s Office, which he then expanded into the Human Trafficking Response Unit (HTRU).  HTRU investigates and prosecutes sex and labor trafficking cases using evidence-based prosecutions to build strong cases that do not rely solely on the testimony of victims.  HTRU’s prosecutors also take a victim-centered approach, connecting trafficked people to services while training law enforcement to identify and handle potential trafficking cases.  Mr. Vance served as Manhattan District Attorney from 2010 to 2021 and is now a partner at Baker McKenzie.