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PROMISE - Partnership to Rescue Our Minors from Sexual Exploitation

Call to action

Support HR 3887

The William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2007 -- Enhancing the federal fight against trafficking in persons, a modern form of slavery
CONTACT YOUR SENATORS (http://www.senate.gov/)

MAJOR PROVISIONS:

THE MANN ACT HAS LONG MADE IT A FEDERAL CRIME TO “PERSUADE, INDUCE, OR ENTICE” PEOPLE INTO PROSTITUTION AND ACROSS STATE OR INTERNATIONAL LINES.  BUT THE MANN ACT WAS LEFT OUT OF THE MODERN FRAMEWORK TO DISMANTLE TRAFFICKING IN HUMANS— ROBBING ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORTS OF A POWERFUL TOOL, AND RELEGATING MANN ACT VIOLATIONS TO INSIGNIFICANT PENALTIES.

  • INTRODUCES A COHESIVE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR FIGHTING TRAFFICKING: combines efforts against international and domestic sale of human beings.
  • REMOVES THE NEED TO PROVE TRAVEL, WHILE KEEPING VIOLATIONS IN COMMERCE: constitutionally targets the demand for international trafficking by directly addressing the network that buys and sells women and children for commercial sexual exploitation 
  • REMOVES A BARRIER TO EFFECTIVE PROSECUTIONS AGAINST TRAFFICKERS: makes “force, fraud, and coercion”  part of aggravated trafficking rather than a requirement for all convictions.
  • MAKES EXPORTING SEXUAL EXPLOITERS TO OTHER COUNTRIES (“SEX-TOURISM”) AS SIGNIFICANT A CRIME AS IMPORTING VICTIMS FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.
  • INCREASES PENALTIES FOR TRAFFICKING.
  • STRENGTHENS THE STATE DEPARTMENT’S ABILITY TO PRESS FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKERS IN THEIR COUNTRIES.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO CHANGE THE ‘FORCE FRAUD AND COERCION’ REQUIREMENT?

PIMPS AND JOHNS USE THE SAME TECHNIQUES AS BATTERERS TO CONTROL THEIR VICTIMS: ISOLATION, ECONOMIC CONTROL, PHYSICAL, VERBAL, AND SEXUAL TORTURE, AND CAPTIVITY. 

THE SEX INDUSTRY RELIES ON AND BENEFITS FROM CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE, RAPE, DRUG ADDICTION AND ECONOMIC DESTITUTION: THESE FORCES HELP PIMPS RECRUIT AND KEEP WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN PROSTITUTION.

ALWAYS REQUIRING PROOF OF “FORCE, FRAUD, OR COERCION” PROTECTS PIMPS AND PROFITEERS AND LEAVES VICTIMS VULNERABLE TO ALL THE FACTORS THAT KEEP THEM ENSLAVED IN PROSTITUTION.

NOTHING IN THIS LAW CAN BE USED AGAINST PROSTITUTED PEOPLE. IT IS EXPRESSLY LIMITED TO THEIR SEXUAL EXPLOITERS.

  • Because anti-trafficking laws should focus on the actions of people and businesses that prostitute others, not on the resistance level of victims.
  • Because prostituted women and children often appear to be in the industry by choice when they are anything but free.
  • Because lies about victim “willingness” to engage in prostitution are now being used by pimps and traffickers to avoid accountability for modern day slavery and the sexual exploitation of the world’s most vulnerable and harmed people, prominently women and children, including boys.

In Chicago alone, 16,000-25,000 women are involved in prostitution every year.  Statewide, an estimated 6,500 youth are prostituted annually. Of women in prostitution:

  • 62% were first pimped out before they were 18.
  • 75% are survivors of sexual assault—most of multiple rapes.
  • 66% are victims of incest.
  • 50% are homeless.

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Craigslist

Urge Craigslist to take responsibility for its website which plays a role in facilitating child exploitation and trafficking. Read the facts about Craigslist and act now!

 

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