The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) selected United Against Human Trafficking (UAHT) as the beneficiary of the 2021 Distinguished Achievement Awards Event to be held in Houston in August.

Additionally, OTC announced in a June 8 release it had extended its seven-year partnership with the organization, which combats human trafficking through a coalition of Houston-area nonprofits, faith-based organizations and government agencies.

UAHT will be honored during OTC’s Distinguished Achievement Awards event in coordination with OTC’s flagship conference, which is held annually in Houston.

OTC’s annual Distinguished Achievement Awards recognizes major technological, humanitarian, safety, environmental and leadership contributions to the offshore sector. A peer-nominated award, the OTC board honors one individual and one organization for their outstanding accomplishment or achievement within the industry. 

All net proceeds of this year’s awards event, to be held Aug. 15, will benefit UAHT’s work to provide awareness, education, and outreach to combat human trafficking.

“As a long-standing member of the Houston community, OTC is committed to being a good steward of our city by bringing attention to human trafficking and educating OTC attendees from around the world on how to recognize, prevent and support this important cause,” Cindy Yeilding, chair of the OTC board of directors, said in a statement. “As a long-time partner and friend of UAHT, we look forward to helping them continue their important mission of ending human trafficking and empowering survivors.”

UAHT has contributed their work to the Houston area for more than 16 years. The group will also be hosting an educational booth to help OTC attendees identify the early warning signs of human and labor trafficking.

“At United Against Human Trafficking we are passionate about equipping our community to recognize and prevent trafficking because together we are the answer to ending this human-rights violation,” said UAHT CEO Timeka Walker in a statement. “We are grateful to OTC for their continued support and giving us a platform to spread our message to end human exploitation.”

Previous OTC beneficiaries include Medical Bridges, Offshore Energy Center, Engineers without Borders, Gulf of Mexico Foundation and the Independent Petroleum Association of America and the Petroleum Equipment & Services Association Energy Education Center for the benefit of the Energy Institute High School, Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, Oilfield Helping Hands, the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy in Houston, and Spindletop Charities.

OTC’s flagship conference will take place Aug. 16-19 in Houston at the NRG Park in collaboration with NAPE Summit, which will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center Aug. 18-20. More information about OTC 2021 can be found at 2021.otcnet.org.

Tickets for the OTC Distinguished Achievement Awards event are available for purchase at 2021.otcnet.org/register.

Comments