January 5, 2011
Showing posts with label Oregon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oregon. Show all posts
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Where Strip Clubs Thrive In Portland, So Does Child Sex Trafficking
"Part of what we have to do as a community is change people's mind about purchasing sex," Ohlsen said. "We have to disrupt transactions, identify sex trafficking when it happens and build an environment where it's not ok to buy."
Read HERE
Where Strip Clubs Thrive In Portland, So Does Child Sex Trafficking:
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Salem vigil to protest human trafficking – Oregon Faith Report
Vigil to End Human Trafficking– Christians unite to transform Oregon
By Oregon Center for Christian Values
The Oregon Center for Christian Values is convening a statewide vigil in Salem on January 11, 2011 – National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Christians from across the state will be converging on the state capitol. We will stand together on the marble steps and bear silent witness to the epidemic of human trafficking that is attacking our community. At 10:00 AM, on January 11th, citizens will gather at Cone Chapel on Willamette University campus in Salem. In preparation for the day, there will be hot coffee and refreshments and an overview of the event. At 11:00 AM, the crowd will march across the street to the marble steps of the State Capitol, where television news crews and print journalists will be waiting.
The assembled gathering will listen to public officials who have led the fight against Human Trafficking. County Commissioner Diane McKeel will open the event. Senators Bruce Starr and Suzanne Bonamici will join Representatives Andy Olson and Carolyn Tomei on the Capitol steps to explain why these new laws are so critical. These State Legislators have shown true leadership, and they are indispensable in passing new laws that will help end human trafficking.
Many nonprofit organizations will have booths set up inside the state capitol, in the Galleria. The Oregon Center for Christian Values will be joined by Door to Grace, International Justice Mission, Compassion2one, SARC, Shared Hope, and others. In addition, several civic groups will be present, led by Oregonians Against Trafficking Humans (OATH), joined by Catholic Charities, the Soroptimists, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, SOS Beaverton, and Zonta.
Please join us on the state capitol steps on January 11th, and demonstrate that Oregon citizens are willing to stand together to fight injustice, end human trafficking, and transform our state
Source: oregonfaithreport.com/
Monday, January 3, 2011
Sex trafficking: Portland must step up efforts to prevent exploitation | OregonLive.com
Image via WikipediaPublished: Saturday, January 01, 2011, 7:04 AM
View full sizeElizabeth HovdePortland: Home to great coffee, a vibrant creative class, recreation near every doorstep ... and a massive human trafficking problem.
All sorts of groups are fighting the sex-trafficking problem Portland is saddled with. And when area churches recently asked the city how they could give a gift as part of their annual Season of Service campaign, Portland and Multnomah County commissioners wrote back saying that in Portland alone, police have identified more than 100 likely juvenile victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Safe transitional housing for those who escape the life, they said, was an immediate need.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, children as young as 12 are forced into prostitution and officers report an average of five cases of human trafficking each week, of which at least two victims are juveniles. Pimps are making good money on the backs of girls and boys who haven't even made it to high school, often luring them into the trade with expensive gifts, affection and promises of companionship. Instead of algebra, these kids learn to strip and turn tricks.
In November, Portland dedicated $285,000 to Janus Youth Programs and the Sexual Assault Resource Center to help provide four to eight shelter beds and treatment for juvenile victims of human trafficking.
With four beds scheduled to come on line in February -- the first formal shelter options for victims of commercial sexual exploitation in the state -- lawmakers and social workers have accomplished a lot. But paying for ongoing services survivors need, as well as securing more safe housing, will be a challenge.
So far, at least nine churches from Portland, Hillsboro and West Linn have joined forces to raise money for this year's Season of Service request. Of course you don't have to be a churchgoer to help out: Visit portlandchristmasgift.org to learn how to contribute. In short, donations can be made at any U.S. Bank branch to the account named "Advent Conspiracy Gift: Portland trafficking shelter."
People who work with and on behalf of trafficking victims are excited to see more police stings and more resources. But they also acknowledge that rescuing and then helping victims rebuild isn't the ideal. It'd be far better to prevent the exploitation to begin with.
Prevention is happening. There's a lot more public awareness, and states everywhere are considering or passing harsher penalties for pimps and customers of commercial sex. But more is needed. Portland, especially, needs to rethink its acceptance of sex shops on every corner and its lax oversight of ads for commercial sex.
The Portland metro region is a hotbed for trafficking minors because of its proximity to Interstate 5, a well-known sex-trafficking route. Being known as a place with a large number of runaways also hurts us. Homeless youths are vulnerable and prime targets for pimps. But these factors are exacerbated by the region's liberal attitudes toward the sex industry.
As Wynne Wakkila, executive director of Oregonians Against Trafficking Humans, told me, "I remember being astounded when I moved to California and saw liquor stores on every corner. I imagine people coming to Portland have much the same reaction when they see the frequency of adult stores. Adults have freedom of choice, but I worry about imposing this on children, who legally are considered not mature enough to make these choices."
Linda Smith, a former congresswoman and founder of Shared Hope, an organization that fights trafficking around the world, says that communities with more permissive attitudes toward commercial sex end up with a lot of juvenile victims. That's because, over time, nothing is off limits, sexual appetites evolve, and customers accept more risk and feel fewer boundaries.
Multnomah County Commissioner Diane McKeel has made fighting sex trafficking a top priority. Her policy analyst, Andrew Olsen, told me last week, "We agree that the amount of clubs and stores is definitely a contributing factor." He added that the Oregon Supreme Court has upheld some of the strongest freedom of speech laws in the nation, making it difficult to combat the human trafficking problem here.
One idea making the rounds is to require some kind of permit that dancers and strippers would be required to have showing their age. Because dancers are typically considered "contractors," rather than employees of a business, a permit of sorts would help cops more easily identify underage victims. That's a start. More protective zoning laws also would make a difference, but policy aides warn they would meet some tough constitutional challenges.
As Salem readies for a new legislative session, we need lawmakers to brainstorm legal ways to make Oregon a safer place for kids, and adults, who are easily trapped in the sex industry. Without some changes, Oregon will soon need as many shelters as there are strip joints.
Elizabeth Hovde writes a Sunday column for The Oregonian and posts regularly on The Stump. Reach her at ehovde@earthlink.net
Source: oregonlive.com
Sex trafficking: Portland must step up efforts to prevent exploitation | OregonLive.com
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Saturday, August 7, 2010
Judiciary Committee Approves Wyden-Cornyn Legislation to Combat Sex Trafficking | Newsroom | Senator Ron Wyden | Standing Up for All of Oregon
Image via WikipediaPress Release of Senator Wyden
Judiciary Committee Approves Wyden-Cornyn Legislation to Combat Sex Trafficking
Bill provides aid for sex trafficking victims while taking a hard line on the pimps and traffickers who exploit underage girls
Thursday, August 5, 2010Judiciary Committee Approves Wyden-Cornyn Legislation to Combat Sex Trafficking
Bill provides aid for sex trafficking victims while taking a hard line on the pimps and traffickers who exploit underage girls
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee sent a message to the perpetrators of modern sexual slavery today when it approved legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas). The FBI estimates that each year more than 100,000 underage girls are exploited for commercial sex in the United States. The Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act will put forward a model for rescuing these young women by providing block grants for a six state pilot project that will give law enforcement enhanced tools for cracking down on the pimps who orchestrate sex trafficking while creating shelters and providing treatment, counseling and legal aid for the minor victims.
“Today’s bipartisan vote sends a clear message that sexual slavery will not be tolerated in the United States,” Wyden said. “Putting a real end to sex trafficking means doing more than just locking up those involved. A serious effort must also be made to address the factors driving the cycle of exploitation. Our approach will do this by focusing law enforcement on the real criminals – the pimps abusing underage girls for profit – while giving these young women the tools they need to escape their abusers.”
“These young victims pose unique challenges to law enforcement and service providers,” Cornyn said. “Their cooperation with authorities is often impeded by the victims’ fragile psychological state, and further complicated by the threat of physical violence posed by the evildoers who exploit children for profit. Our bill is aimed at developing collaborative programs to help victims begin the physical and mental healing process. Providing these services will dramatically increase the chances of a victim’s cooperation and help law enforcement bring down sex-trafficking rings, which are often associated with international criminal syndicates and street gangs.”
Block grant locations would be chosen by how they rate on criteria such as the presence of significant sex trafficking activity; demonstrated participation by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and social service providers; and a workable plan to provide comprehensive, wrap-around services to sex trafficking victims, including the establishment of a shelter facility.
Each block grant would be funded at $ 2 - 2.5 million per year and could be renewed for two additional years. Items to be funded by the block grants would include:
· A shelter for trafficking victims;
· Clothing and other daily needs in order to keep victims from returning to the street;
· Victims' assistance counseling and legal services;
· Education or job training classes for victims;
· Specialized training for law enforcement and social service providers;
· Police officer salaries - patrol officers, detectives, investigators;
· Prosecutor salaries, and other trial expenses;
· Investigation expenses - wire taps, expert consultants, travel, other "technical assistance" expenditures; and
· Outreach, education, and prevention efforts, including programs to deter offenders.
The bill will also help boost prompt reporting of information on missing and abducted children to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. More timely reporting will help law enforcement identify repeat runaways, who are statistically proven to be more likely to be lured into prostitution.
“Today’s bipartisan vote sends a clear message that sexual slavery will not be tolerated in the United States,” Wyden said. “Putting a real end to sex trafficking means doing more than just locking up those involved. A serious effort must also be made to address the factors driving the cycle of exploitation. Our approach will do this by focusing law enforcement on the real criminals – the pimps abusing underage girls for profit – while giving these young women the tools they need to escape their abusers.”
“These young victims pose unique challenges to law enforcement and service providers,” Cornyn said. “Their cooperation with authorities is often impeded by the victims’ fragile psychological state, and further complicated by the threat of physical violence posed by the evildoers who exploit children for profit. Our bill is aimed at developing collaborative programs to help victims begin the physical and mental healing process. Providing these services will dramatically increase the chances of a victim’s cooperation and help law enforcement bring down sex-trafficking rings, which are often associated with international criminal syndicates and street gangs.”
Block grant locations would be chosen by how they rate on criteria such as the presence of significant sex trafficking activity; demonstrated participation by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and social service providers; and a workable plan to provide comprehensive, wrap-around services to sex trafficking victims, including the establishment of a shelter facility.
Each block grant would be funded at $ 2 - 2.5 million per year and could be renewed for two additional years. Items to be funded by the block grants would include:
· A shelter for trafficking victims;
· Clothing and other daily needs in order to keep victims from returning to the street;
· Victims' assistance counseling and legal services;
· Education or job training classes for victims;
· Specialized training for law enforcement and social service providers;
· Police officer salaries - patrol officers, detectives, investigators;
· Prosecutor salaries, and other trial expenses;
· Investigation expenses - wire taps, expert consultants, travel, other "technical assistance" expenditures; and
· Outreach, education, and prevention efforts, including programs to deter offenders.
The bill will also help boost prompt reporting of information on missing and abducted children to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. More timely reporting will help law enforcement identify repeat runaways, who are statistically proven to be more likely to be lured into prostitution.
Judiciary Committee Approves Wyden-Cornyn Legislation to Combat Sex Trafficking | Newsroom | Senator Ron Wyden | Standing Up for All of Oregon
Thursday, August 5, 2010
MODERN SLAVERY IN OUR MIDST: A Human Rights Report on Ending Human Trafficking in Oregon « Door To Grace :: Restored Life To Rescued Children
FROM: DOOR TO GRACE
July 15th, 2010
MODERN SLAVERY IN OUR MIDST: A Human Rights Report on Ending Human Trafficking in Oregon « Door To Grace :: Restored Life To Rescued Children
July 15th, 2010
The important new paper prepared by the International Human Rights Clinic at Willamette University College of Law summarizes a fact-finding study undertaken between August 2009 and June 2010 to evaluate Oregon’s response to human trafficking.
Download MODERN SLAVERY IN OUR MIDST (3.75MB, PDF)
MODERN SLAVERY IN OUR MIDST: A Human Rights Report on Ending Human Trafficking in Oregon « Door To Grace :: Restored Life To Rescued Children
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Think Out Loud Human Trafficking · Oregon Public Broadcasting
AIR DATE: Wednesday, August 4th 2010
Earlier this year former CBS newsman Dan Rather produced a documentary focused on Portland. Many states, including Oregon and Washington, have been taking on the problem to various degrees. Senator Ron Wyden and other politicians recently announced partial funding for a new shelter for survivors of sex trafficking.
Are you a survivor of sex trafficking? What led you into — and out of — the industry? What would help others get out of the forced sex trade, particularly minors? Do you work with survivors? What have you seen that's been effective?
GUESTS:
- Elisia Lopez: Advocate for the Sexual Assault Resource Center, former child prostitute
- Linda Smith: President of Shared Hope International in Vancouver, Washington
- Gwynne Skinner: Assistant professor of law at Willamette University, directed recent report [summary pdf] on human trafficking in Oregon
- Doug Justus: Portland Police Bureau Sergeant in charge of the Vice Detail
Think Out Loud Human Trafficking · Oregon Public Broadcasting
Friday, February 12, 2010
Oregon Daily Emerald - Legislators tackle human trafficking
Image via Wikipedia
Published: Friday, February 12, 2010
Updated: Friday, February 12, 2010
Alcohol vendors may soon be playing a part in helping Oregon legislators spread public awareness of human trafficking in the state.
On Tuesday, legislators unanimously passed House Bill 3623, which aims to raise awareness about human trafficking in Oregon and is now undergoing readings in
the Senate.
The bill allows the Oregon Liquor Control Commission to choose whether to send informational stickers to beer and liquor distributors throughout the state. The stickers will include a hotline number for victims, reporting tips or for general information regarding human trafficking and would likely be displayed around bars and liquor stores.
“Oregon has become a hub for human trafficking on the West Coast,” said Rep. Brent Barton, D-Clackamas, one of the bill’s sponsors. “Human trafficking is tied with the illegal arms trade as the second largest world-wide illicit activity after the drug trade, and it is growing more rapidly than either. Oregon is not immune to it.”
With the bill, Barton hopes to set a precedent for laws dealing with human trafficking.
“It’s a pretty modest bill,” Barton said. “I consider it a first step, but we need to completely transform the way government interacts with this issue.”
Washington and California adopted laws defining and restricting human trafficking in 2003 and 2005, respectively. Oregon lawmakers have been slower to act.
In 2007 the legislature passed ORS 163.266, trafficking in persons, and ORS 167.017, compelling prostitution. Both statutes identify their respective crimes as Class B felonies — the former for people taking any part in human trafficking and the latter for inducing others to engage in prostitution. Class B felonies result in a maximum prison sentence of 10 years or a $250,000 maximum fine.
However, Barton said trafficking in persons is difficult to prosecute consistently. Because it is an unranked offense with no set repercussions for the offender, district attorneys rarely use the 2007 statute and instead use ORS 167.012, promoting prostitution,whose “punishment is clearly defined.”
Deputy Keith Bickford, Multnomah County sheriff’s detective and director of the Oregon Human Trafficking Task Force, said legislative actions like the bill passed Tuesday are crucial for him to do his job.
Bickford said Oregon’s human trafficking laws lack specificity and severity, but “There are several folks who are trying to beef up laws and make trafficking a higher-level crime.”
The Task Force considers Portland a troublesome city for human trafficking because of its ports, major waterways and the intersection of Interstate 5 and Interstate 84. Located along the I-5 corridor, Eugene and Salem are also on the Task Force’s radar.
No agencies track the number of people trafficked through Oregon, but the FBI estimates about 18,000 people are brought into the United States each year.
“We don’t even have a number yet; it could be hundreds, it could be thousands,”
Bickford said.
Professor Chuck Hunt, whose social inequality course at the University addresses human trafficking, said the number of people in forced-labor situations is unprecedented in historical terms.
“This is a huge, huge problem. There are more slaves today than in 1863,” Hunt said. “Any effort to publicize it or blow a whistle is certainly something I’d be inclined to support. My only question would be, is this the most effective way to
attack the problem?”
Hunt also said that, although sexual slavery is the most publicized, military and industrial slavery both pose daunting threats to the humanitarian interests of the global community.
Bickford plans to hold informational meetings in cities across Oregon.
“The Task Force also supplies free classes; I’m in charge of the whole state of Oregon, as dumb as that sounds,” he said. “A lot of folks don’t even know what human trafficking is. If I wanted to put it in layman’s terms, it’s modern-day slavery.”
igeronimo@dailyemerald.com
Oregon Daily Emerald - Legislators tackle human trafficking
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