January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified abolishing slavery in the U.S., yet it is disturbing to note that 147 years later, thousands of human beings, many of whom are children, are taken forcibly from their homes and families and forced into prostitution or other subservient environments.
This form of modern-day slavery occurs worldwide. Victims are of all ages, including young children. Forms of human trafficking include: forced hard labor, sex trafficking, debt bondage, involuntary domestic servitude, forced child labor and child sex trafficking. The website stopslavery.net indicates that from 1998 to 2003, more than 500 victims from 18 countries were found in California, and it is believed that this is just the tip of the iceberg.
California is unfortunately a top destination and hub for traffickers due to the need for workers, a large immigrant population, extensive borders, and major harbors and airports. The State Capitol, Sacramento, is a target location for these illegal activities because of its locale. Nestled at the crossroads of four interstate highways, victims can be easily moved throughout the state, staying one step ahead of the authorities. Still, many residents are shocked and surprised that trafficking exists at all in California.
Public awareness is one of the most important tools in the fight against trafficking. Victims are here among us in plain sight, but many of us don’t know what to look for. Since 2005, the FBI has recovered 200 children forced to work as prostitutes in the Sacramento area. The FBI group, Innocence Lost Task Force, formed to address the growing problem of children forced into prostitution, has recovered more than 1,200 children from the streets throughout the U.S. in the last seven years. The internet is now used as a conduit for making these illicit transactions even easier.
It is difficult to assess the actual number of victims; it is such a covert activity. However, the Homeland Security estimates that there may be as many as 800,000 victims in the U.S. today. The Congressional Research Services advises that “as many as 17,500 people are believed to be trafficked into the U.S. each year.” Many victims are undocumented foreigners who fear deportations if they cooperate with law enforcement officials, but many are citizens.
Thankfully, in October 2000, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 was enacted. Prior to that, no comprehensive federal law existed to protect victims of trafficking or to prosecute their traffickers. In 2005, California passed the California Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which made human trafficking a felony. California continued to strengthen this law, increasing the fine from $5,000 to $20,000 for any person convicted of forcing into prostitution a child under the age of 16. It also allows for the forfeiture of property and proceeds acquired through trafficking.
California is a leader in the effort to combat human trafficking, acknowledging that it is a worldwide issue; Governor Brown signed the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act that became law on January 1, 2012. The new law requires retail sellers and manufacturers with annual worldwide gross receipts over $100 million doing business in California to publicly disclose their efforts to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their direct supply chain.
By becoming more knowledgeable and raising awareness, Californians can do our part to combat human trafficking. Join us in fighting this terrible scourge.
