Georgia Capitol dome

On most days of the year, the Georgia capitol building is swarming with activity. On February 1st, however, there is a sense of urgency and purpose not often seen among the usual visitors to the political center of the city. Community leaders, activists, students, and others are there to remind their legislators that throughout the state of Georgia, minors of both sexes are sexually exploited. Approximately 7200 Georgia men pay pimps to participate in sex acts with these youth, who are coerced and manipulated into performing. [1] In 2005, Atlanta was named by the FBI as among fourteen U.S. cities with the highest incidences of sex trafficking, and the latest research from the Governor’s office of families and children suggests that in Georgia alone, between 220 and 500 girls are commercially exploited each month. [2]

Amy Walters of Street Grace describes the the goal of Lobby Day as having always been a “…grassroots mobilization of the community to express our voices on behalf of those that do not have a voice.” Volunteers on behalf of Street G.R.A.C.E, Wellspring Living, and A Future Not a Past have been consistently peaceful, polite, and persistent over the years. Last year, lobbyists visited the offices of their representatives and senators, leaving behind a symbolic white rose and a note to remind them that hundreds of victims suffer the consequences of being commercially exploited every month. In years past, volunteers have either informed their legislators of the reality that Atlanta is a center of sex trafficking, both of U.S. citizens and of people trafficked into the country, or asked them to support bills like S.B 304 and S.B 69. This year, volunteers will thank their legislators for working hard to protect Atlanta’s children from victimization.

A Future Not A Past representatives expect between 600 and 1,000 Georgians to participate in Lobby day. They will join Attorney General Sam Olens, Senator Renee Unterman, Representative Edward Lindsey, and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, all of whom are scheduled to speak on behalf of CSEC victims in Georgia. Atlanta musician Janie Chu will perform her single “Dear John”, as well as other songs from her sophomore release, on the capitol steps before Lobby Day begins.

“This is probably the easiest way to make a difference,” Walters explains. “Showing up really matters and this is your chance to be a voice for those who don’t have a voice. We have people coming from all over the state…Let’s pack out the north steps of the capitol.”

Click here to register for LOBBY DAY 2012.

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[1] Georgia Demand Study, 2009. The Shapiro Group. http://bit.ly/xejRol

[2] Georgia Governor’s Office. http://1.usa.gov/op1S7d

The hotline, inherited from Princess Night (a ministry of Atlanta Dream Center), went live on December 19, 2011 as a non-vanity number: 404-941-6024. Because many victims call from phones that do not have lettered keypads (like hotel room phones and some payphones) and it may be safer for them to dial an inconspicuous number on a cell phone that lists call records, a non-vanity number was chosen as the best option.

An Out of Darkness representative explained that the organization plans to work alongside agencies like Polaris Project and Seattle Against Slavery to track call volume, demographics, and the locations of phone calls; however, rescue takes precedent over information gathering. The hotline is connected to four homes, three of which are dedicated to women exiting commercial sexual exploitation. Out of Darkness expects to add three more homes by February.

Currently, Out of Darkness is in its early stages. Its greatest needs from the community reflect the needs of the entire effort to end trafficking throughout the nation: donations and volunteers. The faith-based organization hopes to use donations to upgrade its free phone service to a more efficient commercial phone service and increase its office space to accommodate a growing corps of volunteers and interns. Volunteers – particularly male volunteers – from all geographical regions in Georgia are needed to participate in as many rescues as possible.

On January 27 and 28, Out of Darkness will host a volunteer training for those wanting to get involved. To learn more about Out of Darkness and find out how to volunteer, visit their website by clicking HERE.

Get the full story here.

Source: Reuters

Jesse Eaves, Policy Advisor for World Vision’s Children in Crisis program, stresses the extreme importance of the bill to anti-trafficking efforts:

“The Trafficking Victims Protection Act is hugely influential in giving other countries the support they need to step up their fight against trafficking…It is the best diplomatic tool we have, and if it is not renewed, the United States’ fight against trafficking will end on October 1.” (Health News)

So what’s so important about this bill, anyway?

HISTORY

In 2000, the U.S government passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), a bill now regarded as the most significant step forward in combating trafficking in the nation’s history. (For a history of trafficking related legislation prior to the TVPA, check out Summer Intern Natalie Decker’s blog post) According to a fact sheet provided by the Department of Health and Human service, the 2000 TVPA took a firm stand against trafficking into and within the United States through a model of prevention, protection and prosecution.

The preventive aspect of the bill authorized the annual Trafficking In Persons (TIP) report, which gathers extensive research about global patterns of trafficking and increases public knowledge and awareness. The TVPA also established a global standard for countries dealing with human trafficking, which the TIP reports on each year. As well as raising awareness, the original TVPA was designed to protect victims from deportation and retaliation, which encouraged them to testify against their traffickers in court. Temporary visas, permanent residency, witness protection program eligibility, healthcare, housing, and rehabilitative services are provided to trafficking victims who are willing to aid in the prosecution of human trafficking. To punish the traffickers and deter would-be criminals, the TVPA upped the charges of trafficking from a misdemeanor to a felony, and introduced the possibility of life sentences in jail, depending on the nature of the crime.

Every few years, the TVPA is reincarnated as a more improved version of itself through reauthorization. This has taken place in 2003, 2005, and 2008 as knowledge and methods of combating trafficking have increased. Activists and anti-trafficking leaders hope that it will take place again in this year with the 2011 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA).

WHAT DOES THE 2011 TVPRA MEAN FOR CHILD TRAFFICKING VICTIMS?

• “Authorizing the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Office to negotiate child protection compacts with designated focus countries to increase resources and political will to eradicate child trafficking (the essential provisions of the Child Protection Compact Act). ” (IJM)
• Further prosecuting American citizens who travel abroad to have sex with children by strengthening the Protect Act. The Protect Act allows the U.S government to prosecute Americans visiting abroad who participate in child sex tourism. The 2011 TVPRA would also allow prosecution of Americans living abroad that purchase sex with underage victims of trafficking, as well.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR VICTIMS WHO HAVE BEEN TRAFFICKED INTO THE COUNTRY?

This recent story about a trafficking witness whose family became the target of a trafficker almost says enough about the need to protect witnesses and victims of trafficking from their abusers. In this case, the U.S government failed to keep its promise of protecting a witness and instead deported him. He was shot and his daughters were kidnapped by the man he’d planned to testify against (all three family members are currently safe).

The 2011 TVPRA will also protect unaccompanied minors who’ve arrived in the U.S by granting them access to the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor program, which places them in foster care programs ”tailored to the specific needs of vulnerable migrant youth”. (Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services)

The TVPRA will continue the TVPA’s initiative to grant victims of trafficking temporary or permanent residence as well as giving them access to rehabilitative care. It also makes the important distinction between victims of trafficking and illegal immigrants.

Acting Deputy Assistant of the Office of Immigration and Border Security Kelly Ryan stated in a report to the Senate Judicary Committee earlier this week that

From October [2010] through July 2011, USCIS has approved T nonimmigrant status for 1,009 victims of human trafficking and their families (437 principals and 572 family members). This already represents a 26 percent increase from fiscal year 2010. This upward trend indicates that we are becoming better at identifying victims and offering assistance.

The TVPA has made history, and will continue to do so, as one of the United States’ most effective means of addressing an insidious injustice occuring within its own borders against its own citizens. Be a part of that history by picking up the phone and calling your senators.

REFERENCE

Department of Health and Human Services Fact Sheet

Health News: World Vision says fight against human trafficking will end if Congress doesn’t pass Trafficking Victims Protection Act

International Justice Mission

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services

United States Department of Labor

The most alarming aspect of the story, aside from the growing trend of the United States of America as a destination for child sex tourism rather than a source:

Federal agents said when they arrested Bichl in Cleveland, he had a laundry list
of items with him, including lingerie, sex toys, bondage ropes, a mask, and some
stuffed purple unicorns for his victim, along with sedatives in case she got
scared…

Otto Linzenbach and Peter Bichl of Germany, Zachary Casey of Millersburg, Ohio and Johnathan Waltman of Nashport, Ohio will be formally sentenced in coming months.

Read the full story here.

Source: Fox 8 Cleveland

Source: Hawaii News Now

The full story can be read by clicking here.

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Source: Change.Org

A Boston study indicates that over 27% of people victimized by traffickers will seek out emergency health care at some point. However, only 3% of medical staff are trained to recognize the signs. Get more info at Meet Justice Medical.

Read the full story here.

Source: seMissourian.com

On September 30, 2011, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act is set to expire. Organizations and activists have rallied together to raise awareness and mobilize people to contact their senators.  On September 8, join these activists for National Call In Day. Take a few minutes out of your day and call your senator to let them know that the TVPRA is important to you as their constituent, and encourage them to sign on as co-sponsors of the bill.

International Justice Mission provides an easy template for registering to call and also provides a way to search for senators by zip code. They even have a script right there on the website to use, so there’s no way to feel silly or uneducated. At Innocence Atlanta, we encourage you to excercise your voice as a constituent and take a stand for victims of human trafficking in the United States. Make the call. Make a change in someone’s life.

To check out the Event Page for National Call In Day, click here.

Click here to sign up with International Justice Mission.

Source: Marietta Daily Journal

Read the full story here. (Warning: Somewhat graphic.)