Soroptimist International of Woodbridge 1 STOP Human Trafficking

Soroptimist International of Woodbridge 2  Follow-on Meeting 18 June 2009  Purpose: Discuss Human Trafficking and Strategize an Approach  Goal:  SIOW and Local Citizens Work as the Catalyst to Establish the Prince William County Anti - Human Trafficking Alliance  Push for a “Zero Tolerance” Policy in the state of Virginia AGENDA Report from visit to Raleigh Community Forum on 2 June 09 Review the laws in Virginia (or lack thereof) Form Committee / Sub-Committees to work specifics

Soroptimist International of Woodbridge 3 Report from visit to Raleigh Community Forum on 2 June 09 SI Raleigh Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Committee - Studied a published report on how to plan a community forum - A series of Community Interactive Meetings were scheduled -- Mayor of Raleigh was asked via letter to open 1 st forum with a proclamation challenge/commitment -- attendees & panelists represented a cross-section of the community and included persons from: NC Senator Ellie Kinnaird Wake County Commissioner Betty Lou Ward, Vice Chair US Attorney’s Office NC Refugee Services Department of Health and Human Services Legal Aid of NC Raleigh Police Dept. Garner Police Dept. Chapel Hill Police Dept. NC Highway Patrol Haven House (helps at risk youth and families) Governor’s Crime Commission Women’s Club of Raleigh and Cary NC Council for Women/ Domestic Violence Commission FBI (Victim Specialist Unit) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) North Carolina Justice Academy Carolina Women’s Center, UNC World Relief North Carolina Greensboro’s Triad Ladder of Hope Citizens of the community; Pastors Against Trafficking; Peace at Work -- 1 st forum (Public Awareness) open to public and invited everyone they could think of -- Follow-on forums were invitation only (maintain cross-section representation and no traffickers) -- Forums were free of charge but required advance RSVP via registration -- Most held at Univ. of Phoenix campus

Soroptimist International of Woodbridge 4 Report from visit to Raleigh Community Forum on 2 June 09 Jan 2009: Awareness - Everyone invited (about 150 attended) - Panelists and Speakers per previous chart - Lunch provided - Attendees each received a folder of information - Focus areas to be addressed in subsequent forums (defined by SI committee) Feb 2009: Legislation, Law Enforcement, Prosecution Mar 2009: Diminishing Demand (36 attendees) Apr 2009: Needs of Victims June 2009: Community Response Small groups from the ~ 30 in attendance Prioritized (a) Focus Areas of Concern (b) Actions within each area which had been proposed in previous meetings - Next Steps -- SI will compile results of above into a report and disseminate to all attending agencies and citizens -- SI grant to form a Community Task Force with an oversight steering committee - encourage agencies to take on responsibilities for the identified action items - monitor progress -- SI using separate grant to print 10,000 ‘yellow cards’ for dissemination to every law enforcement officer -- State law enforcement mandatory education is actively in work

Soroptimist International of Woodbridge 5 Laws Concerning Human Trafficking International Level: United Nations

Soroptimist International of Woodbridge 6 United States Federal Level: 2000 – Trafficking Victims Protection Act passed by Congress 2003 – reauthorized / enhanced 2005 – reauthorized / enhanced 2007 – William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2007 (TVPRA, H.R. 3887)

Soroptimist International of Woodbridge 7 State of Virginia: - One of 15 remaining U.S.. states that has no specific code criminalizing human trafficking - Multiple bills proposed but allowed to die in committee - Governor authorized formation of Commission on the Prevention of Human Trafficking -- charted from July 1, 2007 – July 1, Voting Members Has only met 4 times Has published 1 Executive Summary plus meeting minutes Heard several experts at each session Did not have quorum so did not accomplish anything except talking - Chairman, Delegate Adam Ebbin finally got legislation approved via HB 2016 to expand definitions of abduction and kidnapping -- Abduction. Expands abduction to include abducting a person with the intent to subject the person to forced labor or services. Intimidation is redefined to include withholding a person's passport or like documents. The bill also adds four new RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) crimes. Difference in sentencing: Anyone convicted of a Class 5 felony is subject to a sentence of up to 12 months in jail or one to ten years in prison. The penalty for violation of the RICO statutes is a possible prison sentence of 5 – 40 years; a second violation is a Class 2 felony with 20 years to life imprisonment A good law would define both labor and commercial sexual exploitation as human trafficking; and recognize the full range of psychological bondage techniques employed by traffickers; provide adequate support for the restoration of victims, and provide for restitution, civil rights of action, and other support for care provision; shield victims of trafficking from acts committed while in the trafficked condition; criminalize human trafficking - PLUS these This legislature is a first step for Virginia but does not actually define human trafficking specifically

Soroptimist International of Woodbridge 8  Establish the Prince William County Anti-Human Trafficking Alliance (open to suggestions for a catchy title/acronym)  Self- Education - Research and Read Everything - Model on Successful Campaigns  Reach Out to Establish Contacts Within Prince William County & State  Government Awareness - Get on Agenda to Address County Board of Supervisors Session; etc.  Public Awareness - Numerous Ways to Do This …  Education - Resources Available to Train / Train the Trainers  Advocacy - What are our local and state laws regarding trafficking - How is the crime defined? - How do first responders handle the victims? - Demand maximum sentences for traffickers and their customers - Promote ‘zero-tolerance’

Soroptimist International of Woodbridge 9 Follow-on Actions: Next meeting: