April 22, 2013
April 15,2013
Suspicions of Human Trafficking in Saudi Arabia| Huffington Post
Saudi Arabia diplomatic compound is under investigation after officials say they came into contact with victims of human trafficking. Jackie Bensen, reporter for NBC Washington, says DHS officials were called to the McLean, Va compound Wednesday morning. A report even stated that one women tried to escape by squeezing through a gap in the front gate as it was closing. Real Estate records show that the residence belonged to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The country "is a destination country for men and women trafficked for the purpose of involuntary servitude and commercial exploitation," quoted from a State Department report on human trafficking. The investigation is still under the rocks, but an official told BuzzFeed's Rosie Gray that other agencies are involved.
Saudi Arabia diplomatic compound is under investigation after officials say they came into contact with victims of human trafficking. Jackie Bensen, reporter for NBC Washington, says DHS officials were called to the McLean, Va compound Wednesday morning. A report even stated that one women tried to escape by squeezing through a gap in the front gate as it was closing. Real Estate records show that the residence belonged to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The country "is a destination country for men and women trafficked for the purpose of involuntary servitude and commercial exploitation," quoted from a State Department report on human trafficking. The investigation is still under the rocks, but an official told BuzzFeed's Rosie Gray that other agencies are involved.
April 8, 2013
Hotel Workers involved in Human Trafficking Fight| News Leader
Hotel workers are trained not to take interest in their guests' private lives but with human trafficking becoming such a huge epidemic, employees get a little nosy. Hotel managers, housekeepers, front desk clerks, maintenance workers and hospitality workers are valuable in seeing possible signs of teenage sex slaves or abuse. at the Columbia workshop, Deb Home, a University of Missouri public health professor, gave a couple warning signs to watch out for: guest without luggage; cash transactions; third-party reservations; repeated refusals of requests to clean rooms; frequent visitors; teens wearing suggestive clothing and young guests accompanied by older guests who don't appear to be family members. Hume pointed out that some behaviors potentially suspicious could be benign, others noted a fine line between vigilance and excessive oversight. Hume left the workshop visitors with one message, "Trust your instincts."
Hotel workers are trained not to take interest in their guests' private lives but with human trafficking becoming such a huge epidemic, employees get a little nosy. Hotel managers, housekeepers, front desk clerks, maintenance workers and hospitality workers are valuable in seeing possible signs of teenage sex slaves or abuse. at the Columbia workshop, Deb Home, a University of Missouri public health professor, gave a couple warning signs to watch out for: guest without luggage; cash transactions; third-party reservations; repeated refusals of requests to clean rooms; frequent visitors; teens wearing suggestive clothing and young guests accompanied by older guests who don't appear to be family members. Hume pointed out that some behaviors potentially suspicious could be benign, others noted a fine line between vigilance and excessive oversight. Hume left the workshop visitors with one message, "Trust your instincts."
April 1, 2013
Victims Speak in Marion| Marion Star
Theresa Flores, survivor of human trafficking, is set to speak Thursday evening at River Valley High School. The city school nurse, Chrissy Sprinkle, wanted to let people know the tragedy of human trafficking can happen in small areas of Ohio such as Marion County. Theresa travels around the country to share her story of how she was raped, drugged, and tortured for two years as a young women in Detroit. She also shared how she had to pay back debt because traffickers were threatening her family. Sprinkle was shocked to hear that Toledo was number four in the nation of arrests of sex trade. There has also been a few cases of human trafficking in Ohio. If you are interested in listening to Theresa Flores speak, the event is free to the public. Theresa will be speaking at 7-9p.m at River Valley.
Theresa Flores, survivor of human trafficking, is set to speak Thursday evening at River Valley High School. The city school nurse, Chrissy Sprinkle, wanted to let people know the tragedy of human trafficking can happen in small areas of Ohio such as Marion County. Theresa travels around the country to share her story of how she was raped, drugged, and tortured for two years as a young women in Detroit. She also shared how she had to pay back debt because traffickers were threatening her family. Sprinkle was shocked to hear that Toledo was number four in the nation of arrests of sex trade. There has also been a few cases of human trafficking in Ohio. If you are interested in listening to Theresa Flores speak, the event is free to the public. Theresa will be speaking at 7-9p.m at River Valley.
March 25, 2013
Human Trafficking ring busted in Yonkers| Westchester News 12
13 people were arrested for a massive human trafficking and drug operation on Tuesday. Prosecutors were accused of smuggling women from Tenancingo, Mexico to New York City. Some of these young women were forced against their will. The young girls were forced into prostitution to as many as 30 costumers per day. Traffickers and costumers would provide condoms and birth control to hinder pregnancy, if a women got pregnant they were forced to take a pill to induce miscarriage. Policeman also stopped a narcotics drug system that was happening in the same building on the top floor. Officers say the two incidents have no relation.
13 people were arrested for a massive human trafficking and drug operation on Tuesday. Prosecutors were accused of smuggling women from Tenancingo, Mexico to New York City. Some of these young women were forced against their will. The young girls were forced into prostitution to as many as 30 costumers per day. Traffickers and costumers would provide condoms and birth control to hinder pregnancy, if a women got pregnant they were forced to take a pill to induce miscarriage. Policeman also stopped a narcotics drug system that was happening in the same building on the top floor. Officers say the two incidents have no relation.
March 18, 2013
Rally Warns of Human Trafficking| Courier Journal
Many people gathered at Jefferson Square Park on Tuesday afternoon to raise awareness on illegal human trafficking during the Kentucky Derby. Activists say national sporting events attract tourists.Marissa Castellanos, human trafficking program manager for Catholic Charities of Louisville, said "We know that human trafficking both for sex and for labor is prevalent both in urban and rural areas throughout the commonwealth." When the rally is over protesters hold up signs to raise awareness for this harmful issue.
Many people gathered at Jefferson Square Park on Tuesday afternoon to raise awareness on illegal human trafficking during the Kentucky Derby. Activists say national sporting events attract tourists.Marissa Castellanos, human trafficking program manager for Catholic Charities of Louisville, said "We know that human trafficking both for sex and for labor is prevalent both in urban and rural areas throughout the commonwealth." When the rally is over protesters hold up signs to raise awareness for this harmful issue.
March 11, 2013
Lives of Victims| Bangor Daily News
A few members of the Greater Portland Coalition Against Sex Trafficking and Exploitation were able to talk to a few victims. They heard a lot of shocking stories, most coming from younger females. In Maine pimps pay as much as $3,500 for a girl. They get bought and sold over and over again and it continues as a cycle. The pimps would use food as a reward until they have received their money for their job. Many victims have said that Maine has become a recruiting ground for traffickers and pimps to resupply their "stables." A young women shared her experience in the world of human trafficking. She guess she has been raped hundreds of times, and choked unconscious about three times. One day she woke up and heard three girls who were also victims of prostitution were found dead underneath a pier. Two males were found in a hotel room with several females, one of those girls were under aged. Tim Farris, a member of the GPCASTE, had an opportunity to speak with a former "pimp." He said, "Nothing personal, man, I was hoping you'd kill me. See, these predators, these criminals don't value human life lie you and I do. It's just apart of "the game." Sex trafficking is slowly but soon will be stopped but there is so much more work to be done.
A few members of the Greater Portland Coalition Against Sex Trafficking and Exploitation were able to talk to a few victims. They heard a lot of shocking stories, most coming from younger females. In Maine pimps pay as much as $3,500 for a girl. They get bought and sold over and over again and it continues as a cycle. The pimps would use food as a reward until they have received their money for their job. Many victims have said that Maine has become a recruiting ground for traffickers and pimps to resupply their "stables." A young women shared her experience in the world of human trafficking. She guess she has been raped hundreds of times, and choked unconscious about three times. One day she woke up and heard three girls who were also victims of prostitution were found dead underneath a pier. Two males were found in a hotel room with several females, one of those girls were under aged. Tim Farris, a member of the GPCASTE, had an opportunity to speak with a former "pimp." He said, "Nothing personal, man, I was hoping you'd kill me. See, these predators, these criminals don't value human life lie you and I do. It's just apart of "the game." Sex trafficking is slowly but soon will be stopped but there is so much more work to be done.
March 4, 2013
Human Trafficking: A Growing Epidemic| Atlanta Daily World
A Young girl named Alexandria dies at the age of 19. Her mother started selling her to men for sex when she was only 7. Alexandria later contracted HIV and died. More than 27 million people are forced to a live of sex trafficking. The City of Atlanta has become a magnet to the concept. Young girls fall into the act of schemes posing as modeling or acting businesses. Only a few cases have been prosecuted and have successfully caught the people behind it but some victims fall short. Sex-trafficking has untimely become a multi-billion dollar industry whether it is linked into pornography, hard labor or any other types of human trafficking. The experience for these girls is horrific. They get beaten, spiritually harmed; some suffer for sexually transmitted diseases, forced abortions and other injuries. These physical and mental abuse to these young women need to be stopped. Celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8. It might just be a day but a day could save a thousand lives.
A Young girl named Alexandria dies at the age of 19. Her mother started selling her to men for sex when she was only 7. Alexandria later contracted HIV and died. More than 27 million people are forced to a live of sex trafficking. The City of Atlanta has become a magnet to the concept. Young girls fall into the act of schemes posing as modeling or acting businesses. Only a few cases have been prosecuted and have successfully caught the people behind it but some victims fall short. Sex-trafficking has untimely become a multi-billion dollar industry whether it is linked into pornography, hard labor or any other types of human trafficking. The experience for these girls is horrific. They get beaten, spiritually harmed; some suffer for sexually transmitted diseases, forced abortions and other injuries. These physical and mental abuse to these young women need to be stopped. Celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8. It might just be a day but a day could save a thousand lives.
February 25, 2013
Awareness key to combating human trafficking| Standard Speaker
"So easy, a cave man could do it" This quote reminds me of a story i recently found about a regular costumer at a nail salon had a feeling that something wasn't right. In fact, something was wrong. The person doing the costumer's nails was a modern-day slave. The costumer watched the female owner give orders to the employee and telling her about chores awaiting at the owner's home. December 2008, a federal jury indicted the owner, Lynda Dieu Phan. She was a lead in an investigation into human trafficking. It's funny how human trafficking and modern-slavery can happen everywhere and anywhere and it would be difficult to not see it. William Walker, assistant special agent in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, said, "It's a vastly under reported crime, making it difficult and maybe impossible to say how prevalent it is." He also brought up the fact that awareness across the United States is the line of defense to protect innocent people from being victims. Most human trafficking victims have been told that they would come to American for a better life. Instead they are forced into marriages, or forced to work at a job that pay little to no money. A women from York County was told the same thing. Walker said that they are imprisoned in "plain sight." Walker the said he has seen people from Europe and Africa that are used for cheap labor where as people brought from Mexico, parts of Central America, South America and Asia are used for prostitution. Walker added rarely does his agency see people get smuggled across the border and forced into a life of prostitution. They mostly see victims that are so physically manipulated to the pint that they don't even know they were a victim of prostitution. Walker said again, "The victims are truly hidden in plain sight." Later the owner of the nail salon was imprisoned followed by house arrest. She was also forced to pay her victims restitution. After Walker's agency looked more in the case both the men the woman were forcibly married too were charged under the cases of marriage fraud. The agency also works with nonprofit organizations to help victims start their lives over. Lastly, if you are at the airport, nail salon, shopping mall, or anywhere else, report it. You may be right.
"So easy, a cave man could do it" This quote reminds me of a story i recently found about a regular costumer at a nail salon had a feeling that something wasn't right. In fact, something was wrong. The person doing the costumer's nails was a modern-day slave. The costumer watched the female owner give orders to the employee and telling her about chores awaiting at the owner's home. December 2008, a federal jury indicted the owner, Lynda Dieu Phan. She was a lead in an investigation into human trafficking. It's funny how human trafficking and modern-slavery can happen everywhere and anywhere and it would be difficult to not see it. William Walker, assistant special agent in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, said, "It's a vastly under reported crime, making it difficult and maybe impossible to say how prevalent it is." He also brought up the fact that awareness across the United States is the line of defense to protect innocent people from being victims. Most human trafficking victims have been told that they would come to American for a better life. Instead they are forced into marriages, or forced to work at a job that pay little to no money. A women from York County was told the same thing. Walker said that they are imprisoned in "plain sight." Walker the said he has seen people from Europe and Africa that are used for cheap labor where as people brought from Mexico, parts of Central America, South America and Asia are used for prostitution. Walker added rarely does his agency see people get smuggled across the border and forced into a life of prostitution. They mostly see victims that are so physically manipulated to the pint that they don't even know they were a victim of prostitution. Walker said again, "The victims are truly hidden in plain sight." Later the owner of the nail salon was imprisoned followed by house arrest. She was also forced to pay her victims restitution. After Walker's agency looked more in the case both the men the woman were forcibly married too were charged under the cases of marriage fraud. The agency also works with nonprofit organizations to help victims start their lives over. Lastly, if you are at the airport, nail salon, shopping mall, or anywhere else, report it. You may be right.
February 18, 2013
Women arrested for house of prostitution| Clayton Daily News
25 year old Jessica McKenzie Washington, of Upper Riverdale Road, is being held in Clayton County jail with charges of prostitution, pimping, pandering and keeping a house of prostitution. John Bankhead, GBI spokesman, said the allegations were involving two teenage girls. A SWAT team was used to search her apartment due to information saying there were weapons inside, but she was not there. Policeman found her car in the parking lot with loads of lingerie in the front seat. Agents had her under surveillance at another part of the complex and quickly arrested her. A 14-year old girl ran away from home in Columbus on Christmas Day. Later on, the girl was found in Washington's apartment. Washington told policeman she was paid $200 to house the girl until a bus ticket arrived. Washington was then posted a $5,000 bond a was ordered to stay away from the girl and her family. Bankhead said this case is being investigated by the GBI Sex Trafficking Unit.
25 year old Jessica McKenzie Washington, of Upper Riverdale Road, is being held in Clayton County jail with charges of prostitution, pimping, pandering and keeping a house of prostitution. John Bankhead, GBI spokesman, said the allegations were involving two teenage girls. A SWAT team was used to search her apartment due to information saying there were weapons inside, but she was not there. Policeman found her car in the parking lot with loads of lingerie in the front seat. Agents had her under surveillance at another part of the complex and quickly arrested her. A 14-year old girl ran away from home in Columbus on Christmas Day. Later on, the girl was found in Washington's apartment. Washington told policeman she was paid $200 to house the girl until a bus ticket arrived. Washington was then posted a $5,000 bond a was ordered to stay away from the girl and her family. Bankhead said this case is being investigated by the GBI Sex Trafficking Unit.
February 11,2013
Arkansas approves Human Trafficking Bill| WWLTV
Arkansas moved a step closer Friday to toughen up their laws on protecting human trafficking victims. The House voted 91-0 to approve the bill that the governor has approved to sign. The bill gives victims opportunities to sue their abductor and it creates new penalties for anyone who knowingly patronizes a prostitute who is a human trafficking victim. Rep. David Meeks said Arkansas needs to expand its laws on human trafficking even thought they usually involve federal jurisdiction. This involved the case in November when a New Jersey man was convicted of running a nationwide sex trafficking and prostitution ring out in Little Rock. "Human trafficking does often have an interstate component, so that would fall under federal law," Meeks said. "But in Arkansas, you had prosecutors who didn't know that human trafficking existed or knew about it but saw them using other statutes because the penalty on it was not tough enough." A national group working against human trafficking called The Polaris Project has received 246 calls from Arkansas to its national human trafficking hotline. The spokeswoman for the Polaris Project, Megan Fowler said, "We are pleased that Arkansas' legislators are making laws against human trafficking." She also said, "These are the types of actions we want to see all states take to protect victims of human trafficking, punish traffickers, and prevent this crime and him,and rights abuse from occurring."
Arkansas moved a step closer Friday to toughen up their laws on protecting human trafficking victims. The House voted 91-0 to approve the bill that the governor has approved to sign. The bill gives victims opportunities to sue their abductor and it creates new penalties for anyone who knowingly patronizes a prostitute who is a human trafficking victim. Rep. David Meeks said Arkansas needs to expand its laws on human trafficking even thought they usually involve federal jurisdiction. This involved the case in November when a New Jersey man was convicted of running a nationwide sex trafficking and prostitution ring out in Little Rock. "Human trafficking does often have an interstate component, so that would fall under federal law," Meeks said. "But in Arkansas, you had prosecutors who didn't know that human trafficking existed or knew about it but saw them using other statutes because the penalty on it was not tough enough." A national group working against human trafficking called The Polaris Project has received 246 calls from Arkansas to its national human trafficking hotline. The spokeswoman for the Polaris Project, Megan Fowler said, "We are pleased that Arkansas' legislators are making laws against human trafficking." She also said, "These are the types of actions we want to see all states take to protect victims of human trafficking, punish traffickers, and prevent this crime and him,and rights abuse from occurring."
February 4, 2013
Super Bowl is the largest human trafficking incident| Huffington Post
What do you think of when you hear the words Super Bowl? Mainly about sports and football, but not prostitution. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott told USA Today in 2011 when hosting the event. "It's commonly known as the largest human trafficking incident in the United States. Experts say that the massive crowds allow for pimps and victims to go unnoticed. According to Forbes, 10,000 prostitutes were bought to Miami for the Super Bowl in 2010 and 133 arrests were made in Dallas of 2011. Former sex trafficking victim, Greenlee, tells Times- Picayune that she was shuttled around cities to prostitute at large- scale events. On Friday, five women were rescued and eight human- trafficking related arrest were made in New Orleans, according to FOX 8. law enforcement agencies and advocacy groups are collaborating with local businesses to help crack down on this situation. They have been handing out pamphlets to clubs and bars in the area explaining what they need to look out for. Ray Parmer, a local special agent-in-charge with Immigration and Customs Enforcement says, "We treat these people as victims." He also said, "They are not arrested nor do we remove them from United States, we treat them as victims.
What do you think of when you hear the words Super Bowl? Mainly about sports and football, but not prostitution. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott told USA Today in 2011 when hosting the event. "It's commonly known as the largest human trafficking incident in the United States. Experts say that the massive crowds allow for pimps and victims to go unnoticed. According to Forbes, 10,000 prostitutes were bought to Miami for the Super Bowl in 2010 and 133 arrests were made in Dallas of 2011. Former sex trafficking victim, Greenlee, tells Times- Picayune that she was shuttled around cities to prostitute at large- scale events. On Friday, five women were rescued and eight human- trafficking related arrest were made in New Orleans, according to FOX 8. law enforcement agencies and advocacy groups are collaborating with local businesses to help crack down on this situation. They have been handing out pamphlets to clubs and bars in the area explaining what they need to look out for. Ray Parmer, a local special agent-in-charge with Immigration and Customs Enforcement says, "We treat these people as victims." He also said, "They are not arrested nor do we remove them from United States, we treat them as victims.
January 28, 2013
Human Trafficking in Orlando| Orlando Sentinel
Human Trafficking gets spotlighted in Orlando. Most would think of human trafficking taking place in Chinese sweatshops or Thai brothels and not family vacation areas of Orlando. A Fourteen year old girl from Brevard County gets captured and rescued by two girls from a man that had a history of forcing girls into prostitution. Police say they stopped the man's car on a daily traffic stop. Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs says, "Unfortunately, our popularity has also turned our state into a hub for human trafficking." Several hundred people attended the fifth human trafficking awareness event. Also some government agencies and nonprofits attended. The Shed Light District hope to set up safe homes for children rescued from sexual slavery and will hold a movie screening March 3 at the Enzian Theater. Chairman of the Central Florida, Tomas J. Lores, said the event had grown tremendously since the first effort to inform people of this problem. "We want to make sure every citizen of Orlando knows it's occurring here because the key is to get people involved," Lares said. Please encourage the people around you to check out the screening March 3 and make a change to end human trafficking for good.
Human Trafficking gets spotlighted in Orlando. Most would think of human trafficking taking place in Chinese sweatshops or Thai brothels and not family vacation areas of Orlando. A Fourteen year old girl from Brevard County gets captured and rescued by two girls from a man that had a history of forcing girls into prostitution. Police say they stopped the man's car on a daily traffic stop. Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs says, "Unfortunately, our popularity has also turned our state into a hub for human trafficking." Several hundred people attended the fifth human trafficking awareness event. Also some government agencies and nonprofits attended. The Shed Light District hope to set up safe homes for children rescued from sexual slavery and will hold a movie screening March 3 at the Enzian Theater. Chairman of the Central Florida, Tomas J. Lores, said the event had grown tremendously since the first effort to inform people of this problem. "We want to make sure every citizen of Orlando knows it's occurring here because the key is to get people involved," Lares said. Please encourage the people around you to check out the screening March 3 and make a change to end human trafficking for good.
January 21, 2013
Students push for action on Human Trafficking from Wyoming's News Source
Well, to begin Happy MLK Day everyone! Today I bring to you an article about a group of students at the University of Wyoming pushing for action on human trafficking.
Three words---"Slavery still exist," according to the International Justice Mission Chapter. Two students, Daniel DeCecco and Davianne Vanderpool, said they spoke with the state Rep. Cathy Connolly about having legislation passed on human trafficking in Wyoming. DeCecco and Vanderpool helped build a petition since October with approximately 600 signatures. "We should not punish trafficking victims for crimes committed as a result of being trafficked. instead we should make it easier for trafficking survivors to rebuild their lives," the document reads. Having that being said I would hope you guys take time out of your schedule to make change and show your opinions on prostitution and modern day slavery in the world today.
Students push for action on Human Trafficking from Wyoming's News Source
Well, to begin Happy MLK Day everyone! Today I bring to you an article about a group of students at the University of Wyoming pushing for action on human trafficking.
Three words---"Slavery still exist," according to the International Justice Mission Chapter. Two students, Daniel DeCecco and Davianne Vanderpool, said they spoke with the state Rep. Cathy Connolly about having legislation passed on human trafficking in Wyoming. DeCecco and Vanderpool helped build a petition since October with approximately 600 signatures. "We should not punish trafficking victims for crimes committed as a result of being trafficked. instead we should make it easier for trafficking survivors to rebuild their lives," the document reads. Having that being said I would hope you guys take time out of your schedule to make change and show your opinions on prostitution and modern day slavery in the world today.
Students push for action on Human Trafficking from Wyoming's News Source
January 14, 2013
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day from The Huffington Post
I recently stumbled upon an article about January 13, 2013 being the date for National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Also President Obama declared January National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Nonprofits called upon President Obama to rener the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. This would provide protection to the 27 million people who are considered modern-day slaves or forced into labor and sex. The release stated "We will invest in helping trafficking victims rebulid their lives. And as one of the world's largest purchasers of goods and services, the Federal Government will keep leading by example, further stregnthening protections to help ensure that American tax dollars never support forced labor."
I recently stumbled upon an article about January 13, 2013 being the date for National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Also President Obama declared January National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Nonprofits called upon President Obama to rener the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. This would provide protection to the 27 million people who are considered modern-day slaves or forced into labor and sex. The release stated "We will invest in helping trafficking victims rebulid their lives. And as one of the world's largest purchasers of goods and services, the Federal Government will keep leading by example, further stregnthening protections to help ensure that American tax dollars never support forced labor."
January 10, 2013
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