Child Abuse Prevention Month: Fact of the Day

14% of all men and 36% of all women in prison were abused as children.

Abused children are less likely to practice safe sex, putting them at greater risk for STDs. They’re also 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy.

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Source for this month's facts:
DoSomething.org, (2014). 11 facts about child abuse. Retrieved from website: https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-child-abuse.

Modern Slavery News Round-Up

South Sudan sides 'recruit 9,000 children to fight' More than 9,000 child soldiers have been fighting in South Sudan's brutal civil war, UN human rights chief Navi Pillay has said. Both the army and rebel forces had recruited the children, she said. Ms Pillay said South Sudan faced the threat of a famine, but there was an "apparent lack of concern" on the part of its leaders. She was speaking at the end of a visit to South Sudan, where the conflict has displaced about a million people.

  Nigeria girls' abduction: Protest march in Abuja
Hundreds of mainly women protesters have marched through the Nigerian capital, Abuja, to press for the release of 230 schoolgirls abducted by militants two weeks ago. The government should, if necessary, negotiate with their captors to secure their release, a protester said. The Islamist group Boko Haram has been blamed for abducting the girls from their school in Chibok, Borno state. Boko Haram has not yet made any response to the accusation. The group, whose name means "Western education is forbidden" in the local Hausa language, has staged a wave of attacks in northern Nigeria in recent years, with an estimated 1,500 killed in the violence and subsequent security crackdown this year alone.

Sex trafficking in your backyard
Minnesota brings many things to mind — open prairies, 10,000 lakes and Midwestern values. Yet even in America's heartland, the most wretched of crimes, human trafficking, is a growing menace. Last year, the FBI identified Minnesota as one of the nation's 13 largest centers for child sex trafficking. The Women's Funding Network says that monthly, about 200 adolescents are sold for sex there through the Internet and escort services. In 2011, Minnesota courts had nearly 400 trafficking-related convictions.

Human trafficking victim shares her story
Amanda Dobyns said her mother traded her for drugs when she was younger. “She owed her drug dealer several thousand dollars and he told her you can either give me your daughter or pay me the money you owe me,” Dobyns said. It happened when Dobyns was only 13 years old. “Anytime she wanted a fix she would just trade me to him and get her drugs and he and multiple men would rape me,” Dobyns said.

  New Hampshire: Human trafficking bill moves to House The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee unanimously passed a comprehensive human trafficking bill Tuesday, setting the stage for floor action next week. The bill is considered a significant step forward for New Hampshire, which has been lagging behind other states in establishing laws against those who engage in sex and labor trafficking. "This bill contains big advancements that are super important," said Amanda Grady Sexton, public policy director of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. In a national ranking of state sex trafficking laws, the national anti-trafficking organization Polaris Project placed New Hampshire third from the bottom.

Child Abuse Prevention Month: Fact of the Day

About 80% of 21-year-olds who were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder.

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Source for this month's facts:
DoSomething.org, (2014). 11 facts about child abuse. Retrieved from website: https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-child-abuse.

Child Abuse Prevention Month: Fact of the Day

Abused and neglected children are 11 times more likely to engage in criminal behavior as an adult.

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Source for this month's facts:
DoSomething.org, (2014). 11 facts about child abuse. Retrieved from website: https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-child-abuse.

Child Abuse Prevention Month: Fact of the Day

3.6 million cases of child abuse are reported every year in the U.S.

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Source for this month's facts:
DoSomething.org, (2014). 11 facts about child abuse. Retrieved from website: https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-child-abuse.

Child Abuse Prevention Month: Fact of the Day

Boys (48.5%) and girls (51.2%) become victims at nearly the same rate.

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Source for this month's facts:
DoSomething.org, (2014). 11 facts about child abuse. Retrieved from website: https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-child-abuse.

Child Abuse Prevention Month: Fact of the Day

Approximately 5 children die every day because of child abuse.

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Source for this month's facts:
DoSomething.org, (2014). 11 facts about child abuse. Retrieved from website: https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-child-abuse.

Child Abuse Prevention Month: Fact of the Day

In 2010, 1,537 children died of abuse or neglect.
79.4% were under the age of 4 and 47.7% were under the age of 1.

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Source for this month's facts:
DoSomething.org, (2014). 11 facts about child abuse. Retrieved from website: https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-child-abuse.

Child Abuse Prevention Month: Fact of the Day

Most children become victims of abuse and neglect at 18 months or younger.

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Source for this month's facts:
DoSomething.org, (2014). 11 facts about child abuse. Retrieved from website: https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-child-abuse.

Child Abuse Prevention Month: Fact of the Day

90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way.
68% are abused by a family member.

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Source for this month's facts:
DoSomething.org, (2014). 11 facts about child abuse. Retrieved from website: https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-child-abuse.

Child Abuse Prevention Month: Fact of the Day

1 out of 3 girls and 1 out of 5 boys will be sexually abused before they reach age 18.

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Source for this month's facts:
DoSomething.org, (2014). 11 facts about child abuse. Retrieved from website: https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-child-abuse.

National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 2014

During the month of April, in honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, people across the country come together to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect prevention (PCAV, 2014, n.p.). In the United States of America, “every child should have every chance in life, every chance at happiness, and every chance at success” (Obama, 2014, n.p.). Yet tragically, hundreds of thousands of young Americans “shoulder the burden of abuse or neglect” (Obama, 2014, n.p.). During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, President Obama calls the nation to “strengthen our resolve to give every young person the security, opportunity, and bright future they deserve” (Obama, 2014, n.p.).

Without question, the entire nation has a role to play in preventing child abuse and neglect, as well as in helping young victims recover. According to President Obama (2014):

From parents and guardians to educators and community leaders, each of us can help carve out safe places for young people to build their confidence and pursue their dreams. I also encourage Americans to be aware of warning signs of child abuse and neglect, including sudden changes in behavior or school performance, untreated physical or medical issues, lack of adult supervision, and constant alertness, as though preparing for something bad to happen. To learn more about how you can prevent child abuse, visit https://www.childwelfare.gov/Preventing/. (n.p.)

In Virginia, PCAV annually spearheads Child Abuse Prevention Month activities to raise awareness and encourage statewide support for the initiative. This year’s PCAV theme is “Look. Listen. Respond” (PCAV, 2014, n.p.). In partnership with the Virginia Department of Social Services, PCAV implements a Child Abuse Prevention Month campaign that includes “a Proclamation from the Governor, the Child Abuse Prevention Month Packet, and an Annual Conference” (PCAV, 2014, n.p.). In addition to these campaigns, PCAV also spearheads other activities throughout the month, such as: Pinwheels for Prevention and Wear Blue Day (PCAV, 2014, n.p.).

“There are numerous ways to participate in raising awareness of child abuse and neglect prevention,” states PCAV, which hosts a calendar of events and activities for National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Those interested in playing a hands-on role in the campaign should visit the following site: http://pcav.org/events/.

“Our Nation thrives when we recognize that we all have a stake in each other” (Obama, 2014, n.p.). This month and throughout the year, President Obama urges: “Let us come together -- as families, communities, and Americans -- to ensure every child can pursue their dreams in a safe and loving home” (Obama, 2014, n.p.).

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Reference

Obama, B. The White House, Office of the Press Secretary. (2014). Presidential proclamation: National child abuse prevention month, 2014. Retrieved from USA.gov website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/03/31/presidential-proclamation-national-child-abuse-prevention-month-2014.

Prevent Child Abuse Virginia, (2014). 2014 child abuse prevention month. Retrieved from website: http://pcav.org/child-abuse-prevention-month-2/.

Modern Slavery News Round-up

Human Trafficking Bill Goes to State Committee
According to the Florida Current, HB 7141 would set the framework for a screening and assessment process for possible human trafficking victims and create a team of specially-trained counselors working under the state Department of Children and Families.

Philippine police accuse Italian ambassador of human trafficking and child abuse

Philippine police have detained a vacationing Italian ambassador and filed complaints of human trafficking and child abuse after he was allegedly found in the company of three underage boys at a resort. Police arrested Daniele Bosio, a diplomat based in Turkmenistan, at a water fun park near Manila at the weekend following a tip-off from a local child rights group.

Human trafficking brings shame to humanity, UN Special Rapporteur tells an ecumenical consultation
In an ecumenical consultation held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, called human trafficking a criminal activity, on rapid increase in the world. Ezeilo said that not a single country or entity has yet been able to stop this practice, and the magnitude of this problem is enormous.

Facts: 11 Facts About Human Trafficking

1. Globally, the average cost of a slave is $90.
2. Trafficking primarily involves exploitation which comes in many forms, including: forcing victims into prostitution, subjecting victims to slavery or involuntary servitude and compelling victims to commit sex acts for the purpose of creating pornography.
3. According to some estimates, approximately 80% of trafficking involves sexual exploitation, and 19% involves labor exploitation.
4. There are approximately 20 to 30 million slaves in the world today.
5. According to the U.S. State Department, 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year. More than 70% are female and half are children.
6. The average age a teen enters the sex trade in the U.S. is 12 to 14-year-old. Many victims are runaway girls who were sexually abused as children.
7. California harbors 3 of the FBI’s 13 highest child sex trafficking areas on the nation: Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.
8. The National Human Trafficking Hotline receives more calls from Texas than any other state in the US. 15% of those calls are from the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
9. Between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. each year.
10. Human trafficking is the third largest international crime industry (behind illegal drugs and arms trafficking). It reportedly generates a profit of $32 billion every year. Of that number, $15.5 billion is made in industrialized countries.
11. The International Labour Organization estimates that women and girls represent the largest share of forced labor victims with 11.4 million trafficked victims (55%) compared to 9.5 million (45%) men.

Modern Slavery News Round-up

Victim helps raise awareness of human trafficking
An estimated 27 million people, mostly women and children, are forced into exploited labor or sex acts each year, according to the U.S. State Department, and groups that track human trafficking data rank North Carolina as one of the top 10 states for the illegal activity. The Governor's Office and several organizations hosted a day of panel discussions at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School on Monday to raise awareness about human trafficking in the state among students from across eastern North Carolina.

Human trafficking to be focus of OSUM seminar
A former human trafficking victim will headline a seminar this week to discuss the growing problem. De Romano runs a program called Wake Up Youth, which caters to human trafficking victims and survivors. She assisted FBI agents in getting women to testify against traffickers in the Precious Cargo case, which was a massive bust in 2005 in Harrisburg, Pa., that involved numerous Ohio victims and offenders. She also works with Shared Hope International, an anti-human trafficking organization. The Ohio State University at Marion also is taking donations of toiletry items that will support De Romano’s outreach work to get young people off of the streets.

Anti-human trafficking measure moves forward
Victims of human trafficking may see more state services made available to them, if legislation that would allow for intervention through the court system passes.House Bill 569, sponsored by Rep. Julie Stokes, R-Kenner, which gained approval from the House Judiciary Committee last week and will be heard on the House floor, would allow district courts to create a division for human trafficking cases. Traditionally, Louisiana has looked at victims of human trafficking as prostitutes. Over the past few years, Louisiana lawmakers have tried to change that perception. Stokes’ bill is a part of a package that would strengthen penalties for captors, provide more money for victim support services and allow courts to intervene and to secure counseling and shelter.

Facts: Nobody is Safe from Trafficking

       

At least 20.9 million adults and children are bought and sold worldwide into commercial sexual servitude, forced labor and bonded labor. This makes sex trafficking one of the largest international crimes in the world. Nobody is safe from trafficking. It can happen on vacation, at school and at home. The only thing we can do to stay safe is be aware of situations that may put you in danger.

       Do not trust strangers. This one goes way back to when we were children, but putting your trust in strangers can be one of the major contributors to human trafficking. Not ever talking to strangers on a college campus could be detrimental to your social life, so we have to take a chance on trusting people, but while choosing your friends keep in mind that not everyone on campus is looking to be your friend. College students are drinking, doing drugs, gambling and some have been raped. College students are facing the threat of sex trafficking, but are forced to make friends with complete strangers every day.
      Another way to help prevent being sex trafficked is to avoid other illegal things. People who are doing or selling illegal drugs many times also take part in the illegal act of sex trafficking. Traveling can increase the chance of being entered into a sex trafficking ring.

     Wandering off with a group of people you don’t know, in a country you don’t know, with a language you don’t speak is dangerous as is, but especially with sex trafficking on the rise. It is helpful to learn the current events in places out of the country to know if it is currently a safe place to visit. If the country has a sex trafficking background it is better to be more cautious in that place.

Modern Slavery News Round-up

Texas: 100 people found in suspected human trafficking stash house
A house overflowing with more than 100 people presumed to be in the US illegally was uncovered just outside Houston on Wednesday, a police spokesman said. The people were primarily from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador, he said. Two of the people, a pregnant woman and a man, have been taken to a hospital for unknown treatment, he added. Although Palmore said it was too early to say whether this was part of a human trafficking operation, he said it appeared that way.

Wichita men held for human trafficking
Prosecutors said 21 year-old Polo Miller is charged with 2 counts of aggravated human trafficking and 2 counts of commercial sexual exploitation of a child. 20 year-old Alexander Lane is charged with 2 counts of aggravated human trafficking. Both men made their first court appearance Thursday.

Iowa lawmakers wrangle with human trafficking bill
Lawmakers in Iowa are taking action to crack down on sex trafficking involving minors across the state. Legislation on the topic has won unanimous support in both chambers. Most recently, a measure that Rep. Greg Heartsill, a Republican from Melcher-Dallas, calls a "hybrid" of House and Senate versions overwhelmingly passed Wednesday in the House, 97-0. Democratic lawmakers worry that changes made to the bill, like the removal of reporting requirements and a victim support fund, take away from making the victim the priority.

Bern officals crack Thai human trafficking ring
The Bern cantonal prosecutor’s office says it has charged a 52-year-old Swiss-Thai woman for human trafficking and exploiting 25 sex trade workers from Thailand. The victims, including young women and transexuals, were working in brothels financed by the woman and operated by other people of Thai origin in the canton of Aargau, Bern and Lucerne, the office said on Friday.

Nation's top human trafficking route runs through Houston
A congressional hearing took place at Texas Southern University on Thursday to discuss the issue. The federal government considered the Houston area to be one of the biggest hubs in the country for human trafficking. In fact, the 1-10 corridor has been labeled as the number one trafficking route in the country.

Fact: The U.S. is a Primary Destination Country for Human Trafficking

     
The United States is primarily a destination country for adults and children trafficked from all over the world for the purposes of sexual and labor exploitation.

The top countries of origin for foreign victims identified in 2010 were Thailand, India, Mexico, Philippines, Haiti, Honduras, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic. Internal or domestic sex trafficking, where American children and legal residents are trafficked within the United States, also occurs. US citizen victims of child sex trafficking are usually homeless, runaways or come from a broken home or dysfunctional family. Trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation takes place in street prostitution, massage parlours and brothels. Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, the primary element of trafficking has changed from transportation to exploitation; thus sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, is classified as child trafficking under this law

In Our Midst: Human Trafficking in US Schools (Part II)

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. According to the U.S. Department of Education (2013), federal law defines human trafficking as including: “(A) sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; or (B) the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery” [U.S.C. §7102(8)]. Moreover, those who recruit minors into commercial sexual exploitation “violate federal anti-trafficking laws, even if there is no force, fraud, or coercion” (ED, 2013, n.p.).

A report issued by the Office of Safe and Healthy Students summarizes the literature on the scope and severity of human trafficking of children within the United States. Moreover, the report details the grave effects that human trafficking has on U.S. school systems, while offering suggestions for identifying and reporting suspected human trafficking situations.

Part II of the report is as follows:

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How Do I Identify a Victim of Human Trafficking?

Indicators that school staff and administrators should be aware of concerning a potential victim:
• Demonstrates an inability to attend school on a regular basis and/or has unexplained absences
• Frequently runs away from home
• Makes references to frequent travel to other cities
• Exhibits bruises or other signs of physical trauma, withdrawn behavior, depression, anxiety, or fear
• Lacks control over his or her schedule and/or identification or travel documents
• Is hungry, malnourished, deprived of sleep, or inappropriately dressed (based on weather conditions or surroundings)
• Shows signs of drug or alcohol addiction
• Has coached/rehearsed responses to questions

Additional signs that may indicate sex trafficking include:
• Demonstrates a sudden change in attire, personal hygiene, relationships, or material possessions
• Acts uncharacteristically promiscuous and/or makes references to sexual situations or terminology that are beyond age-specific norms
• Has a “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” who is noticeably older
• Attempts to conceal recent scars, bruises, or any other forms of physical injury or trauma

Additional signs that may indicate labor trafficking include:
• Expresses need to pay off a debt
• Expresses concern for family members’ safety if he or she shares too much information
• Works long hours and receives little or no payment
• Cares for children not from his or her own family

How Do I Report a Suspected Incidence of Human Trafficking?

• In the case of an immediate emergency, call your local police department or emergency access number.
• To report suspected human trafficking crimes or to get help from law enforcement, call toll-free (24/7) 1-866-347-2423 or submit a tip online at www.ice.gov/tips.
• To report suspected trafficking crimes, get help, or learn more about human trafficking from a nongovernmental organization, call the toll-free (24/7) National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888.
• To report sexually exploited or abused minors, call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST, or report incidents at http://www.cybertipline.org.

Resources and Publications

Information on human trafficking can also be found on the following Web sites:
• Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
• National Human Trafficking Resource Center
• Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Victims of Human Trafficking & Other Crimes



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Reference

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Healthy Students. (2013). Human trafficking of children in the United States. Retrieved from U.S. Department of Education website: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oese/oshs/factsheet.html.

Modern Slavery News Round-up

Wisconsin Senate passes human trafficking bill
Wisconsin's human trafficking laws would be tightened under a bill that has passed the state Senate.The proposal would allow trafficking victims to ask a judge to vacate or expunge prostitution convictions. The judge could grant the request if he or she gives the prosecutor a chance to respond and determines society won't be harmed.

Groups fight human trafficking through awareness
Human trafficking is a $32 billion criminal industry in the US and abroad, but one group in south Louisiana is hoping to stamp it out. Trafficking Hope and the Junior League of Baton Rouge are hosting a screening of the documentary Nefarious: Merchant of Souls. It takes viewers on a journey around the globe and around the US, opening people's eyes to the world of human sex trafficking.

MI bill to crack down on human trafficking could result in land grab
Legislation aimed at cracking down on human trafficking could result in government taking more property from citizens in Michigan. At issue is a “willful blindness” clause inserted into House Bills 5230 and 5233that would allow government officials to take property from people who, while not involved with a crime, benefit by getting property as a result of some form of criminal activity.