Colorado grand jury indicts 7 in Denver, interstate child sex trafficking ring - The Denver Post:
Showing posts with label Denver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Denver. Show all posts
Monday, January 11, 2016
Monday, December 6, 2010
The Daily Tell » Blog Archive » Embrey Family Foundation donates $1 million to anti-human trafficking charity
On December - 2 - 2010
Many of us who are privileged enough to live in the developed world think of human trafficking as a thing of the past, a relic that exists only in movies. Unfortunately, the reality is that human trafficking is still among the most common and brutal crimes in the world and the second largest criminal industry on Earth, bringing in billions in revenue every year.As with any illegal, underground activity, statistics on human trafficking aren't readily available, but according to the U.S. Department of State's 2007 Trafficking in Persons Report, estimates vary from 4 to 27 million people in modern-day slavery and sex work around the world. Many of these are children, about 1 million of whom are exploited for the global commercial sex trade every year.
But hope is not lost, and charities around the world are working every day to put an end to this practice. In fact, the Denver-based Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking has recently received a $1 million grant from the Embrey Family Foundation to help it pilot a national study of promising practices in the anti-human trafficking field, the Denver Business News reports.
"Currently, no national campaign exists to guide states, cities, and communities in addressing human trafficking," said LCHT executive director Amanda Finger. "We believe Colorado is an ideal place to pilot this ambitious project. Not only is it a source, transit and destination state for human trafficking, it also has a vibrant anti-trafficking movement."
Using funds from the grant, the Colorado Project to Comprehensively Combat Human Trafficking will document successful strategies to prevent human trafficking, protect survivors, punish traffickers and build partnerships among other charities working toward the same goals. LCHT will conduct its research in collaboration with statewide leaders from multiple fields, including Dr. Annjanette Alejano-Steele, a professor at Metropolitan State College of Denver; the Denver Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Denver attorney and anti-trafficking advocate Patricia Medige; and Lauren Croucher, Human Trafficking Project Director with the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance.
It has been a decade since the U.S. passed federal legislation to combat human trafficking, but the crime persists. However, thanks to the generosity of the Embrey Family Foundation and the work of groups like the LCHT, human trafficking may soon be ended.
Source: The Daily Tell
The Daily Tell » Blog Archive » Embrey Family Foundation donates $1 million to anti-human trafficking charity
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Human trafficking not limited to foreign countries
Image via WikipediaPosted 11/15/2010 Updated 11/15/2010 
by Capt. Tamara Fischer-Carter
21st Security Forces Squadron
11/15/2010 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Although slavery was abolished in the United States nearly 150 years ago, a recent case in Denver shows modern-day slavery continues to thrive in the United States. This makes it vital for people to know the signs and avoid becoming facilitators of what is known as human trafficking.
Recently, a Denver man was charged with one count of trafficking in adults and one count of trafficking in children for allegedly running an "out-call" prostitution service from hotels and motels in Denver and Lakewood.
"Many people believe human trafficking is not an issue in this area and believe it only happens overseas," said David Stewart, 21st Security Forces Squadron investigator. "As horrible as it might be, there is human trafficking going on in our community right now and the only way to fight it is through awareness and reporting."
Understanding the problem of human trafficking is vital to stopping it. Human trafficking is the use of another human being for illegal purposes such as commercial sex and forced labor.
"Air Force members and civilians alike need to understand they can be prosecuted for human trafficking, even if they are unaware they are involved in this criminal activity," he said.
People should be aware of, and avoid, any establishment using secretive advertisement for services, or restrictive access where you would not normally expect it. In many cases, victims of human trafficking are unable to speak the local language and can't move freely about the community or are accompanied by a chaperone.
It is vital that all Department of Defense personnel are aware of the warning signs before visiting high-risk establishments. Even though businesses such as brothels are legal in other countries, if human trafficking occurs at these establishments, visiting DoD personnel can still be prosecuted by the United States.
Individuals who suspect human trafficking should report it to security forces, inspector general offices or the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. To report anonymously, contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline at 888-373-7888.
Source:Air Force Space Command
Human trafficking not limited to foreign countries
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Tell Village Voice Media to Stop Child Sex Trafficking on Backpage.com | End Human Trafficking | Change.org
Image by littlevanities via FlickrEnd Human Trafficking:Tell Village Voice Media to Stop Child Sex Trafficking on Backpage.com
by Amanda Kloer
September 02, 2010 07:00 AM (PT)
Craigslist may be the most famous facilitator of online child sex trafficking these days, but Backpage.com, owned by Village Voice Media, is working to catch up. In the past week alone, two human trafficking operations were busted for selling teens on Backpage.com. It's time to tell Village Voice Media and Backpage.com that facilitating and profiting from child sex trafficking is not acceptable.
Earlier this week a Georgia man was arrested for pimping two 17-year-old girls around the Nashville area. Detectives responded to a suspicious ad on Backpage and drove to a motel. There, they found the teens and their 37-year-old pimp, as well as a laptop computer, likely used to post the online advertising. Just four days prior to that, four people in Denver were arrested for forcing a teen girl into prostitution. They also advertised her sexual services, including semi-nude pictures, on Backpage. And last year, a South Dakota couple was arrested for selling underage girls for sex on .... wait for it ... Backpage.com yet again. Sorry Village Voice, but it looks like child sex trafficking on one of your websites is a disturbing trend.
Backpage's terms of use, of course, prohibit advertising for illegal commercial sex acts or exploiting minors, but both are happening anyway in Nashville, Denver, and Sioux City. And like Craigslist, Backpage and their parent company Village Voice Media are doing little to prevent the sale of children or trafficked adults on their site. Village Voice Media has a duty to ensure that young girls aren't being abused in the commercial sex industry with help from their website, and that they aren't facilitating human trafficking.
Online classified sites like Backpage.com, Craigslist, and others are quickly becoming some of the most common places children are sold for sex. These companies have tremendous power to prevent the sexual exploitation of minors online. However, vast amounts of money are to be made in the adult services advertising industry, giving companies few incentives to tighten controls and safeguards against pimps selling kids. That's where you come in. Pressure from online classified users can motivate companies like Village Voice Media to clean up their online classified and take critical steps to protecting children. So take one minute, write a letter to Village Voice Media, and take a stand for exploited children.
Photo credit: Saemel Trip
Amanda Kloer has been a full-time abolitionist for six years. She currently develops trainings and educational materials for civil attorneys representing victims of human trafficking and gender-based violence.
Tell Village Voice Media to Stop Child Sex Trafficking on Backpage.com | End Human Trafficking | Change.org
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Mark Horvath: Homeless Youth Labor and Sex Trafficking in Denver
FROM:
THE HUFFINGTON POST
July 28, 2010
THE HUFFINGTON POST
July 28, 2010
I received a call today from Chris, an outreach worker at Denver's homeless youth services Urban Peak. He said he had to pick up some kids left stranded by a "sales crew." I never heard of such a thing so it didn't register or make sense.
When I arrived at their downtown facility I met Jeremy and Alicia. They were left stranded by an group that exploits homeless youth for labor. These organizations promise great income and fun travel. To a kid in poverty, being able to travel and make money is often too sexy to resist. Of course, this is just a labor trafficking scheme. The kids make very little money, are often abused, and when they want out they are left stranded back homeless, often worse than when they started.
Jeremy and Alicia, up until this morning, were sleeping in a bus station. Alicia is 21 and pregnant. This could have been a horrible situation, but luckily they found Urban Peak. They received a hotel voucher for tonight and will get travel assistance tomorrow so they can take a bus back home.
For more information on labor and sex trafficking of homeless youth, watch this powerful video:
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