Take Action, Push Anti-Trafficking Legislation!
Posted by yabastablog on July 1, 2009
Cassandra Clifford from the DC Human Rights Examiner has called our communities to take action against human trafficking in a recent article. I especially like that she points out that no matter if we have no money, no time, or feel helpless in fighting such a massive problem, there is something we can do when it comes to the law. Though bills and legislative measures come and go, it is up to us voters to make sure our leaders know what is important to us. A new bill has come up in the House. The Child Protection Compact Act of 2009 (HR 2737) was introduced by Chris Smith, U.S. Representative for New Jersey’s 4th District, who is a leader in the fight against modern slavery. If our communities can get this passed, it will help all those fighting to end these atrocities.
The most important part of this legislation is that it will help in the enforcement of trafficking laws. Many of the problems faced today by the anti-trafficking movement is the problem of non-enforcement of the laws. It is known that our own police and government officials frequently break the laws already in place. Border officials take bribes at the border to let trafficking victims come through. Police officers use trafficking victims for sex, government officials allow big corporations to give low wages to their employees. The CPCA would help enforce anti-trafficking laws in targeted countries by providing them with technical assistance and training, additional resources to law enforcement to fight trafficking, victim protection services, and resources to prosecute more traffickers, and give them the capacity to serve survivors.
Read the full article here: http://www.examiner.com/x-7661-DC-Human-Rights-Examiner~y2009m6d30-Helping-to-end-child-trafficking-is-in-your-hands
