A couple of weeks ago I had the great pleasure of presenting
at the September General Membership Meeting. I had spent hours preparing, learning about human
trafficking in the United States, studying Proposition 35 (a.k.a. the C.A.S.E.
Act), and watching videos. This
was a meaty issue that the League and League members could impact immediately,
and I was excited to share what I had learned.
C.A.S.E. stands for Californians Against Sexual Exploitation,
and the act specifically fights human trafficking and the sexual exploitation
of women and children. Human
trafficking is a criminal business that profits from enslaving people for
sexual servitude and forced labor.
In other words, it is modern day slavery. It is the fastest growing and second
largest criminal industry in the world today, second only to drug trafficking.
California is a particular hotbed. Here are the facts:
·
3 of the
highest child sex trafficking areas in the nation: Los Angeles, San Francisco
and San Diego
·
Average
age a victim is first trafficked for sex in the U.S.: 12-14 years old
·
Many
victims are runaways who already suffered sexual abuse as children.
·
Traffickers
or pimps are master manipulators who gain a victim’s trust before forcing them
into commercial sex acts and keep them compliant through violence and drugs.
·
The
prevalence and anonymity of the internet has fueled the rapid growth of sex
trafficking, making the trade of women and children easier than ever before.
trafficking, making the trade of women and children easier than ever before.
1. Increases prison terms for human traffickers.
2. Requires convicted sex traffickers to
register as sex offenders.
3. Requires all registered sex offenders to
disclose their internet accounts.
4. Requires criminal fines from convicted human
traffickers to pay for services to help victims.
5. Mandates law enforcement training on human
trafficking.
At the end of the meeting, a Provisional came up to me and
said, “What you’re doing, I want to do that!” I couldn’t have imagined a better response!
Learn more www.caseact.org, tell your friends and family,
and above all, vote.
Learn about the other propositions on November’s ballot at
the Election Forum on October 9!
Details at http://bit.ly/SHZfV1
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