Archive for March, 2011
Polaris is Hosting a Bowl-A-Thon to benefit victims of Human trafficking in NJ
Looking for a fun night out for a good cause? Polaris Project is holding our first annual bowl-a-thon to benefit victims of human trafficking in the New Jersey area!
A common misconception is that human trafficking only happens in foreign countries like Cambodia and India, while that’s true, it also happens in our local neighborhoods. Each day, pimps victimize women and children on the streets of New Jersey and New York, and immigrants from foreign countries are brought into the U.S. to work as nannies and housekeepers under slave conditions. You can help us assist these victims by attending our bowl-a-thon on Saturday, May 7.
Bowlers are asked to contribute a minimum of $25 that will help us support trafficking survivors as they move forward with their lives. Many of these survivors come to us with no personal possessions, and are in dire need of clothing and other material assistance. Your monetary support will help Polaris Project sustain vital client services like case management, job training, ESL courses, transitional housing, mental health support, group therapy sessions, food and clothing assistance, legal advocacy and medical referrals. Furthermore, local businesses are matching personal donations dollar for dollar, donating directly to New Jersey’s victim support efforts. To participate, please form or join a team of six (6) bowlers. The highest-scoring individual and highest-scoring team will receive prizes!
What: Bowl-a-thon
When: Saturday, May 7, 2011 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Where: Brunswick Zone Lanes 679 Washington Ave., Belleville, NJ 07109
Registration Deadline: April 15, 2011.
Details: We ask that each participant contribute a $25 minimum registration fee. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with the next steps to start fundraising!
Help us spread the word about this event on Facebook and tell your friends to join us on May 7! Please contact Carrie at 973-624-5454 or by email at with any questions.
We hope to see you there!
Polaris Project New Jersey
Georgia House Passes New Bill
Associated Press – March 2, 2011 12:54 PM ET
ATLANTA (AP) – A bill that makes it easier to prosecute human traffickers and keeps them in prison longer if convicted has cleared the Georgia House.
Rep. Ed Lindsey, who sponsored the bill, said his goal is to get human traffickers off the street and to help protect their victims.
The measure would increase minimum sentencing from 1 year to 10 years and adds a fine of up to $100,000 for a conviction. If the victim is a minor, the trafficker would face no less than 25 years in prison.
Experts say the practice is the third largest and fastest growing criminal activity in the world after the drugs and arms trade and is a threat to national security.
The bill passed 168-1 on Wednesday. It now goes to the Senate.
Human Traffickers operating in the Mid-South
A four-month investigation by the local human rights group Operation Broken Silence found most of the activity centers on sex, and much of it starts online.
“Before Craigslist had a lot of pressure placed on them, a lot of the ads were on Craigslist,” said Ryan Dalton of Operation Broken Silence. “They have since moved to Backpage.”
Backpage.com is a web site where you can buy just about anything.
“Someone can log on to the web site and browse like they would for anything – a new car, a lawn mower, but they can also search for people,” Dalton said.
According to Operation Broken Silence, during the last quarter of 2010, more than 1,900 ads posted on Backpage listed women for sale in the Memphis and Tunica region. The ads were for things like “Busty and Thick”, “Sweet Treat”, and “Super Sexy Irish Doll.”
According to this research, Sam Cooper Highway, Memphis International Airport and the Wolfchase Mall area. People aren’t sold in these places – they’re just pick-up points. Researchers say the Wolfchase shopping area is appealing to human traffickers because it’s close to the interstate and there are lot of people with money in their pockets there.
Operation Broken Silence says Memphis International Airport is a hot spot to buy humans because of how many businessmen are traveling alone, and because it’s close to strip clubs. The FBI says sex slaves are brought in from all over the Mid-South and around the world.
Attorneys General in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi joined 18 other states in asking Backpage.com to close its adult services section back in September. But it’s still open, and busier than ever, though users must agree to report suspected exploitation of minors and human trafficking to the appropriate authorities.
The FBI would not comment on the research conducted by Operation Broken Silence specifically, but they have seen the study.
Read more:
•Operation Broken Silence: http://www.operationbrokensilence.org/
For the full article:
http://www.wmctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=14156211
Foundation Tells Texas to Raise the Bar in Human Trafficking Laws
Shared Hope International a organization working in combating human trafficking did an evaluation of different states, grading them on the efforts and progress made in preventing sex trafficking. The founder former U.S. Congresswoman Linda Smith gave Texas a “C”. The event yesterday, sponsored by Traffick911 in Mansfield was organized to bring awareness to the issue of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking.
Hopefully, with events and organizations like Shared Hope International and Traffick911 progress will be made in rescuing and preventing Texas youth from being bought and sold.
Joy Brooks of Fort Worth Human Trafficking Examiner
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Foundation Tells Texas to Raise the Bar In Human Trafficking Laws – Fort Worth Human Trafficking | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/human-trafficking-in-fort-worth/foundation-tells-texas-to-raise-the-bar-concerning-human-trafficking#ixzz1FMYt0EW2
NYC LAWYERS AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING 