Today's Date: March 28, 2024
Dr. Melissa Ivers Launches Prestigious Scholarship Recognizing Triumph Over Adversity   •   ADM Names Commonwealth Warehouse Inc. as a 2023 Supplier Award Winner   •   Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas and Wells Fargo Bank Award $750K to CC Housing for Senior Affordable Housing Development   •   Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and Palantir Partner to Create Safe Conditions for In-Person Education in Schools   •   EIG’s MidOcean Energy Completes Acquisition of Tokyo Gas’ Interests in Portfolio of Australian Integrated LNG Projec   •   Government of Canada signs two bilateral agreements with Quebec to support initiatives to improve health care   •   Carnegie Learning Wins 2024 EdTech Award for MATHstream   •   MDWerks’ Two Trees Beverage Subsidiary to Kick Off Co-Sponsorship of Team Combat League in TCL’s Second Season Debut   •   American Indian College Fund Invites Indigenous Academics, Administrators, and Student Services Personnel to Participate in High   •   SLB Announces Agreement to Acquire Majority Ownership in Aker Carbon Capture   •   Parental avoidance of toxic exposures could help prevent autism, ADHD in children, new study shows   •   The Lenserf Group Launches Emotional Intelligence Academy for HBCU Interns   •   KB Home Named to Newsweek’s 2024 List of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies for a Third Consecutive Year   •   Avocado Green Releases 2023 Impact & Sustainability Report, Highlighting Brand Leadership in Environmental and Social Respon   •   Stora Enso publishes Green and Sustainability-Linked Financing Report 2023   •   Family Source Consultants Celebrates Michigan Legislature Passing Landmark Fertility Health Care Act (House Bill 5207) to Legali   •   Midea Group Breaks Revenue and Profit Records with RMB 373.7 Billion in 2023   •   Guo Guangchang: "Focus on building sustainable, predictable and enterprise with stable profit growth "   •   "SHAKIRA DESDE TIMES SQUARE," an Exclusive Special Taking Viewers Behind-the-Scenes of Shakira's Historic Surprise Performance i   •   Compass Minerals Announces Amendment to Credit Agreement
Bookmark and Share

WA Takes Next Steps Against Human Trafficking

 OLYMPIA, WA - At the State Capitol, diverse grass roots and service organizations are converging to urge an end to human trafficking. Representing a constituency base of more than 15,000, they will come together as one unified voice to engage our lawmakers, law enforcement agencies and business leaders in establishing new strategic partnerships in the state to eradicate modern day slavery in Washington State. Over 50 legislative meetings have already been set to discuss the issue.

The event will include speakers Bradley Myles, CEO and Executive Director of Polaris Project, Washington State Attorney General, Rob McKenna, Terri Kimball - Director Division of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention, City of Seattle, and Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle.

The gathering will build on previous successes in the state. Washington has been a leader in the fight against human trafficking. In 2001, the University of Washington's Women Center and Velma Veloria of the Asian Pacific Islander Safety Center led the state in bringing forward the issue of trafficking, helping to form the Washington State Task Force, the first of its kind in the country.

"In 2003, Washington became the first state to criminalize trafficking and to extend protections to mail order brides." said Dr. Sutapa Basu, Executive Director of UW's Women's Center. Part of the Engagement Day program will included honoring the trailblazing efforts these women's groups have brought to our state and continue to be a roadmap for others.

Tomorrow will build upon that momentum as the challenges to fighting trafficking continues to evolve. "Too little attention has been given to trafficking of people into virtual slavery as domestic laborers, agricultural, and construction workers and other forms of labor." continues Dr. Basu, "We need to ensure that much greater focus is placed on all forms of trafficked labor and all its victims in our state."

Highlighting the work yet to be done, just this week, Shared Hope International gave Washington State a "C" grade of in regards to the level of protection afforded by state laws regarding the sex trafficking of children.

"The average age of an American child forced into prostitution is 13. These children are not just cheap labor, they are slaves. These children are not prostitutes, they are victims." Says Alex Miller of Eastside Women of Purpose,

"This is not a problem that is going to be solved quickly." says Judy Norton of Zonta International, "We need to work together for strong laws, public awareness and education and support services for the young victims."

"That is what Washington Anti-Trafficking Engagement Day is all about," says Deana Berg, event chair, "to catalyze strategic partnerships to support research-based policy and legislative changes to end modern-day slavery." Research and collaboration are currently underway to develop proposed legislation that will further protection for victims of trafficking. At the event, the University of Washington's Women's Center will be announcing that they have agreed to start collecting data on exactly how many people are trafficked and map laws and other resources to help facilitate enforceable and wide- reaching legislation.

One such legislative change is in the area of police investigation and voice recording consent. Currently, in any investigation except when drugs are involved, both parties being recorded must consent. In trafficking cases it is extremely difficult to gain consent in time to collect evidence against traffickers. "To allow police one-party consent voice recording will reduce re-traumatizing the victims because the recording will reduce the number of times the victim has to testify." says Rose Gundersen, Legislative Director for Washington Anti-Trafficking Engagement. "Other states have recognized those laws already, and this administrative warrant procedure is recommended by both Polaris Project and the Protective Innocence Initiative prepared by Shared Hope International because it will enhance investigation and prosecution."

In looking to the past, however, there is hope for the future. Last year, when grass roots activists unified to support human trafficking bills, the Legislature passed four of them unanimously. "This year, we hope to continue that momentum." says Berg.


STORY TAGS: GENERAL, BLACK NEWS, AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWS, LATINO NEWS, HISPANIC NEWS, MINORITY NEWS, CIVIL RIGHTS, DISCRIMINATION, RACISM, DIVERSITY, RACIAL EQUALITY, BIAS, EQUALITY

Video

White House Live Stream
LIVE VIDEO EVERY SATURDAY
alsharpton Rev. Al Sharpton
9 to 11 am EST
jjackson Rev. Jesse Jackson
10 to noon CST


Video

LIVE BROADCASTS
Sounds Make the News ®
WAOK-Urban
Atlanta - WAOK-Urban
KPFA-Progressive
Berkley / San Francisco - KPFA-Progressive
WVON-Urban
Chicago - WVON-Urban
KJLH - Urban
Los Angeles - KJLH - Urban
WKDM-Mandarin Chinese
New York - WKDM-Mandarin Chinese
WADO-Spanish
New York - WADO-Spanish
WBAI - Progressive
New York - WBAI - Progressive
WOL-Urban
Washington - WOL-Urban

Listen to United Natiosns News