Mary Ellison: A stronger fight against human trafficking in Minnesota

In a recent column (’Build on progress in fight against human trafficking’), Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton highlighted the U.S. government’s concern about the grave human rights violation of trafficking throughout the world, including in the United States. We in Minnesota share this concern, because as local media have reported, the sale of human beings for sex is alive and well in Minnesota.

In fact, sex traffickers and “johns” even dare to call themselves “Minnesota Nice Guys,” attempting to portray an image of clean-cut and trustworthy men. Meanwhile their victims suffer debilitating harm: an experience described as “brutally physical … (with) serious psychological torture” (”Sex Trafficking Needs Assessment for the State of Minnesota, the Advocates for Human Rights,” 2008).

To address this devastating human rights violation, Clinton called on those engaged in the fight to add a new element to the existing strategy of prosecution, protection and prevention: partnerships. Over the past several months, seasoned state legislators, experienced law enforcement officials, a statewide human-trafficking task force, tireless advocates and passionate citizens rededicated themselves to even stronger partnerships in combating human trafficking in Minnesota.

Spurred on by the recommendations of the Advocates’ needs assessment, this coalition drafted amendments to strengthen Minnesota’s state law, which complements the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

Led by Minnesota state Sen. Sandy Pappas, chief author of Minnesota’s sex trafficking law in 2005; Sen. Mee Moua; and Reps. Michael Paymar and John Lesch, this coalition of committed partners testified in eight committee hearings and persuaded the Legislature to unanimously pass critical changes to Minnesota’s sex-trafficking law.

Sex trafficking is defined in Minnesota law as “receiving, recruiting, enticing, harboring, providing or obtaining by any means an individual to aid in the prostitution of the individual.” The amendments provide a stronger deterrent for those who sell human beings for sex and a stronger tool for those enforcing the state law.

The amendments, effective Aug. 1, will:

# Provide law enforcement and prosecutors with the ability to arrest and charge sex traffickers with higher penalties where an offender repeatedly traffics individuals into prostitution, where bodily harm is inflicted, where an individual is held more than 180 days, or where more than one victim is involved.

# Increase the fines for those who sell human beings for sex.

# Criminalize the actions of those individuals who receive profit from sex trafficking.

# Categorize sex trafficking with other “crimes of violence” to ensure that those who sell others for sex are prohibited from possessing firearms.

# Add sex trafficking victims to those victims of violent crime who are protected from employer retaliation if they participate in criminal proceedings against their traffickers.

With these changes, Minnesota has made great strides, but much work still needs to be done. Bills to address comprehensive victim services, public benefits, training and public awareness were tabled during the 2009 legislative session due to the lack of available funds. These issues must be discussed and passed in the next legislative session.

Clinton suggested the “problem (of human trafficking) is particularly urgent now, as local economies around the world reel from the global financial crisis.” She stated that “trafficking weakens legitimate economies, breaks up families, fuels violence, threatens public health and safety and shreds the social fabric that is necessary for progress.” While Minnesota will continue to face economic pressures, we cannot afford to have our economy or community further weakened by sex trafficking.

We must prosecute traffickers and johns, and simultaneously protect women and children exploited and victimized by sex trafficking and prostitution. We must promote and protect their rights to dignity, life, liberty and security of person. Doing so not only raises the status of the United States and our state as complying with the very obligations to which we hold other governments, but strengthens our local, national and international community.

Minnesota has positioned itself as a leader in holding offenders accountable for violence against women and children. By continuing to improve its laws combating human trafficking, Minnesota upholds this proud legacy.

Mary C. Ellison is staff attorney for the Women’s Program of the Advocates for Human Rights organization, based in Minneapolis. Her e-mail address is mcellison@advrights.org.

source: http://www.twincities.com/ci_12787157?source=most_emailed

For educational purposes only

Mom: Police Told Daughter To Stop Calling Before Murder-Suicide

‘The Day She Died, She Knew She Couldn’t Talk To Police,’ Mom Says

Deland, Fla. — A Central Florida woman whose 17-year-old daughter was killed in a murder-suicide apparently committed by her ex-boyfriend said the teen was told by police to stop calling for help or she’d be arrested.

Natasha Hall

Police said Clay Coffner shot his estranged girlfriend, Natasha Hall, in the head outside her DeLand home Friday before turning the gun on himself.

Clay Coffner

Hall’s mother, Sherry, said her daughter was concerned about Coffner and informed police.

In fact, Hall said her daughter called police so much that on Jan. 15 they threatened her.

“The police officer said if you call us one more time on him, I’m going to arrest you both,” Sherry Hall said. “So, the day she died, she knew she couldn’t talk to police. So, she handled it herself.”

Michele Karpowicz said everyone noticed the warning signs before the homicide — except police.

“I was going crazy,” Hall’s best friend said. “He was psycho, jealous and abusive.”

Local 6 is trying to obtain a police call log to determine how many times the teen called police.

DeLand police officials have not responded to the allegations.

From ‘The Dreamin Demon’ Blog :

Deland, FL – Natasha Hall, 17, said no. She said it more than once. After breaking up with Clay Kufner last November, Natasha said “no” a lot. But Clay, 19, just kept coming around. And coming around. And calling. And coming around. And calling some more. His Myspace page says “I still looveee you”. Hers says “Natasha doesn’t get mad, she gets EVEN.” Several other Myspace pages showed Natasha and Clay kissing, looking the happy couple – until November of last year. Now, Natasha’s dead by Clay’s hand; Clay’s dead by his own. And their friends are united in a giant wave of “WTF”.

The breakup was nasty and incomplete. Natasha broke up with Clay last fall, but Clay didn’t think it was over. In fact, Natasha didn’t seem sure it was over. The 911 call logs make that pretty clear.

As far back as July 2007, Natasha’s mom called police, saying that Clay was stalking her daughter. In November, her mother called police again, this time saying that Clay was threatening to bang their door in and was on the porch, screaming threats into the house. In December, Natasha’s mom called police because Clay had gotten mad about an email and beat up Natasha – but Natasha and her mother decided not to press charges, and a police report wasn’t filed.

Two weeks later Natasha’s mother again called 911. She said that Clay was making numerous harassing phone calls to their home. Further, she said that Clay took Natasha to a McDonald’s to talk – Natasha wasn’t agreeable to a reconciliation, so Clay threw ice cream in her face, then chased her into a grocery store and forcefully carried her out. This time a police report was filed.

On January 12th this year cops responded to Natasha’s home after Natasha and her mother got in a fight. Natasha’s mother claims that Natasha was sneaking out to see – guess who – Clay. But not a week later, Clay punched Natasha in the face and split her lip, prompting another police call. Just a few days after that, Natasha called 911 herself, afraid. She said that Clay was banging on her doors and windows and screaming at her because she had gone to a party where there were boys. But on January 15, police allegedly told Natasha that if she kept calling, she’d be arrested along with Clay – so Natasha stopped calling for help.

On Friday, Clay broke into Natasha’s bedroom. There he found the “evidence” he was looking for – a Valentine from another boy. So Clay went through the caller ID, called the new boyfriend and pretended to be a military recruiter. The new boyfriend then called Natasha to tell her that something was weird and Clay was in her house. So Natasha and her friend Michelle went to the house. Why? I don’t know.

The girls went into the house and Natasha called Clay out, but he wasn’t inside, so the girls decided to leave and go get some food. As they were leaving at about 10:30 p.m., Clay appeared from around the side of the house, where he’d been lying in wait with a gun. Michelle says that she opened the front door and yelled to warn Natasha, but Clay started shooting.

“He looked at me and said, “I’m going to fucking kill you. Get the fuck out of here,”Michelle said. “I was going crazy. I couldn’t breathe watching my best friend get shot. I couldn’t help her. I felt helpless and I couldn’t do anything for her.”

Clay shot Natasha in the head first, then yelled at Michelle, who ran. Then he turned to Natasha again and calmly shot her in the chest. Nice. Then Clay shot himself next to his unrequited love. If there’s an afterlife and Clay is in it, Natasha is going to be severely pissed off.

source: http://www.sott.net/articles/show/149284-Mom-Police-Told-Daughter-To-Stop-Calling-Before-Murder-Suicide

For educational purposes only

Child Sex Trafficking in America: Pimp Control

Shared Hope International has conducted field research on child sex trafficking across the U.S. This research found underage girls are the bulk of victims in commercial sex markets – this includes pornography, stripping, escort services, and prostitution. There are three main manifestations of child sex trafficking in America: pimp-controlled prostitution, familial prostitution, and “survival” sex. Melissa Snow, Director of Programs for Shared Hope International, will be bringing you periodic updates from the field: the reality of child sex trafficking in America.

It’s happening across the U.S.- from Maryland to Minnesota, Iowa to Utah, American children as young as 12 years old are being sold by pimps in prostitution. By law, any child in prostitution is a victim of human trafficking. And how can such rampant sexual exploitation of America’s youth exist? Pimp control. We use “pimp control” to refer to the targeting, recruiting, and maintaining of a person for commercial sexual exploitation- in many cases, a child.

Here in America, the average age a child is targeted and recruited into sex trafficking is 13 years old. Pimps prey on the innocence of youth because it provides them with a target that can be romanced, tricked and then brutally forced into the sex trafficking market. Pimps use a variety of techniques to target and recruit a child into prostitution, from immediate force and violence as demonstrated in the case of two underage girls from Toledo, to the more common “loverboy” or boyfriend approach.

With either approach, pimps prey on and target girls who project a low self-esteem, or who have run away from home due to familial physical or sexual abuse. This provides the pimps with the opportunity to fill the gap of the lover or caretaker role as both “daddy and boyfriend”. The pimp will invest as much time as necessary into securing the trust and loyalty of his victim. He will fulfill all his promises, buy her nice things and say all the caring words that she has been longing for – biding time to turn the seemingly caring relationship into one of sexual exploitation and torture.

Mickey Royal, a self-proclaimed pimp who has written a book “The Pimp Game: Instruction Guide” explains the process:

“This is the first step in getting her to totally depend on you. You’ll start to dress her, think for her, own her. Her family will become her No. 1 enemy and she’ll attack them with all she has because they are trying to keep her from that which brings her joy – You. If you and your victim are sexually active, then slow it down. Once a week is fine. After sex, take her shopping for one item. Hair and/or nails are fine. She will develop a feeling of accomplishment. The shopping after a month will be replaced with cash. The love making turns into raw sex. She’ll start to crave the intimacy and be willing to get back into your good graces. After you have broken her spirit she has no sense of self-value. Now pimp, put a price tag on the item you have manufactured.”

Once she is locked in to this exploitation, it is extremely difficult to get out. The pimp controls every movement both physically and psychologically. He tells her what to wear, how much to charge, and who to serve. She is often not allowed to come home until the full quota of clients is met. All of the money is handed over to the pimp each night.

While the statistics of child sex trafficking in America are daunting it is clear from the recent arrests of child sex traffickers that awareness is leading to victim identification and response. We must applaud this aggressive action and encourage more awareness. Sex trafficking of children in America is real. It’s happening here, and we can take action to stop it.

source: http://www.zimbio.com/Humaning+Trafficking+Awareness/articles/67/Child+Sex+Trafficking+America+Pimp+Control

For educational purposes only

FBI seeks info in sex trafficking investigation

The FBI is asking residents of Northwest Indiana to provide confidential information in its investigation of sex trafficking conspiracy involving 16 minor and young-adult females.

Four Lake County residents and an Illinois resident have been charged in connection with that investigation in a 21-count superseding indictment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana said in a statement released on Tuesday.

Justin Cephus, 31, Stanton Cephus, 28, and Jovan Stewart, 30, all of Hammond, Haneef Jackson-Bey, 20, of East Chicago, and Delbert Patterson, 19, of Steger, Ill., have been charged with conspiring to commit and committing sex trafficking and prostitution violations.

Justin and Stanton Cephus and Stewart were initially charged in a three-count indictment in March and were ordered detained pending trial “based on the danger they pose to the community and the likelihood that they would flee prior to trail,” the statement said.

The superseding indictment charges all five with participating in the conspiracy and committing one or more offenses involving the sex trafficking of minors, the transportation of minors across state lines for the purpose of prostitution, the sex trafficking of adult women through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, and the transportation of minor and adult women form Indiana to Illinois and from Illinois to Indiana for the purposes of prostitution, the statement said.

“From approximately February 2006 until January 2009, the defendants, led by Justin Cephus, who is charged in each of the 21 counts, ran a prostitution business out of his home and various other locations in and around Hammond,” the statement said. “The business, which advertised in the Yellow Pages in Illinois and Indiana under the names ‘Beauty Escorts,’ ‘Beautiful Entertainment,’ and ‘The Finest and the Best,’ provided sexual services to callers from Northwest Indiana and the Chicago, Ill., area.”

“Defendants used a variety of tactics to recruit girls and keep them working for the business, according to the indictment, including handing out business cards to pretty girls at retail outlets and telling them that the business involved ‘promotions,’ ‘modeling,’ ‘house cleaning,’ ‘private dancing,’ or ‘massage therapy,’” the statement said.

“Defendants are also alleged to have disclosed to girls that a popular music artist is the brother of defendant Patterson and that if they worked for the co-conspirators, they might get to meet the artist and possibly appear in his music videos,” the statement said. “The indictment lays out other methods used to keep girls going on calls, including the use of various forms of physical force, various kinds of fraud, and coercion.”

The investigation of this case is ongoing, the statement said, and is being led by the Chicago Division of the FBI, South Resident Agency. Also instrumental in the investigation have been the Cook County, Ill., Sheriff’s Police and the Hammond Police Department.

Citizens with information about this investigation are urged to contact the FBI at (312) 421-6700. All calls will be treated confidentially.

source:　http://www.chestertontribune.com/PoliceFireEmergency/7893%20fbi_seeks_info_in_sex_traffickin.htm

For educational purposes only

Making the Connections Web Resources

Human Trafficking is a Web Resource dedicated to all things human trafficking. It seems to have just about every angle covered, from recent updates to the status of human trafficking in countries around the world.

The Polaris Project is a group working for a world without slavery which, while slightly more broad than my topic, also includes human trafficking. It deals primarily with the United States and its role in all these different aspects of modern day slavery, including where people can get involved in various cities both in the United States (such as Denver) and even Tokyo.

CBS News has a page dedicated to the story they did on forced teenage slavery and prostitution, titled “The Realities of Human Trafficking.” It is a good resource for news stories and other links like that, as a way to back up what the other website talk about.

The FBI has a page dedicated to human trafficking and how they are working to stop it. They encourage people to report anything they think might constitute human trafficking, as well as promoting resources for victims of human trafficking.

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) seems to have a more comprehensive site than the FBI, even walking a person through the prosecution that would happen of a person accused of human trafficking. It is, again, a good resource for people in the United States who need assistance. But the odds that a person being held against their will would be able to access the DOJ website and understand what it is talking about is slim, at best.

Interpol aims to provide communication and mutual assistance between law enforcement agencies around the world, this is their website on human trafficking. I feel these types of organizations are extremely important because one country putting its foot down will not be enough to truly end this problem; it will take international cooperation to really make a difference.

The UN GIFT (Global Intitiative to Fight Human Trafficking) provides some great resources and definitions of human trafficking. This is another international body that can work to get things done beyond a country’s borders, when needed.

This report on Estimated Human Trafficking in the United States provides information on a study funded by the United States Government in an attempt to find how much human trafficking does occur within the United States. A great resouce for detailed information on the United States and its role in this problem.

This Trafficking in Persons Report of 2007 was done by the State department. It is slightly more recent than the other report I linked to, but they both seem to be full of important information.

This Fact Sheet for Schools teaches people involved in the education system how to look for signs of trouble and what they should do if they suspect something. While people who have been trafficked are not often out in public I fee it is vital for people in those positions of authority to be trained in what to look for in order to help just in case they ever find themselves in that position.

This blog called Radical Left makes the argument that the Western Left is being hypocritical and pushings its values on other countries. I have a huge problem with the article – for one it uses the word “trafficked” in quotation marks to show their disbelief that these women are even forced anywhere against their will in the first place. All I have to say to that is… “wth”???

source:http://tinyurl.com/n8c3m

For educational purposes only

Corporate Watch A pound of flesh

How much does a pound of flesh cost? This is a revealing indicator: the estimates are that the Sex Industry for video and DVD alone generates between $10 billion and $12 billion a year in income in the US and Canada alone. That shames Hollywood, which brought in a record $9.6 billion in the same regions for 2007, a feat not yet repeated. Flesh always sells better and quicker.

Source: bworldonline.com

Human trafficking experts call for police training in D.C. bill

The District is rated as one of the top 10 locations for human trafficking in the country and several nonprofit groups told D.C. Council members that police officers should be trained to recognize human trafficking cases as the city steps up its efforts to fight it.

Representatives of groups like Polaris Project, Free the Slaves and Fair Fund made their request during a public hearing on a human trafficking bill Monday. If passed in its current form, the bill would make human trafficking for the purposes of sex and labor a crime. It would allow victims to sue their pimps and require the city to keep statistics on trafficking cases.

On Monday, the anti-human-trafficking groups also asked that the bill include training for police officers and other first responders.

“Young people are not able to express their victimization in ways that clearly identify it,” said Andrea Powell, co-director of Fair Fund. “Cases that are not reported result in continued abuse.”

The groups said District police officers received periodic training between 2004 and 2007, but it was cut when federal funding went dry. A police spokeswoman could not immediately confirm the training history.

Aashika Damodar, of Free the Slaves, told the council members of how she recently called police to report a brothel in the Dupont Circle area — only to be laughed at by the officer who answered the phone. She said Free the Slaves and other groups had found evidence of human trafficking at brothels in downtown D.C.

In May, an Examiner investigation revealed that police had frequently raided the same alleged brothels Damodar had pointed out and arrested suspected prostitutes only to release them back to the streets.

At-large Councilman Phil Mendelson, who introduced the human trafficking bill, told The Examiner that he will look into adding police training to it, but “it would be unusual to put into a statute training like that.” He noted that he would like to ask the police chief about the training, but neither she nor anyone else from the Fenty administration had appeared at the hearing.

“It’s part of an ongoing problem with the executive branch,” Mendelson said.

fklopott@washingtonexaminer.com

source:http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Human-trafficking-experts-call-for-police-training-in-D_C_-bill-7932152-50073252.html

For educational purposes only

Kansas Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child

This conviction is the result of Operation Guardian Angel, a unique undercover law enforcement investigation targeting the demand for child prostitutes in the Kansas City metro area.

Kansas City, MO – infoZine – Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that an Ottawa, Kan., man pleaded guilty in federal court to the attempted commercial sex trafficking of a child.

This conviction is the result of Operation Guardian Angel, a unique undercover law enforcement investigation targeting the demand for child prostitutes in the Kansas City metro area. As a result of this investigation, a total of seven defendants were indicted in the nation’s first-ever federal prosecution of the alleged customers of child prostitution under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

Richard J. Oflyng, 32, of Ottawa, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Scott O. Wright on Monday, June 29, 2009, to the charge contained in a March 10, 2009, federal indictment.

During the weekend of March 5 to 7, 2009, the Human Trafficking Rescue Project, led by the Independence Police Department, conducted a sting operation targeting local customers who solicit pimps to engage in commercial sex acts with children. The “children” were advertised online at Craig’s List. No real children were actually involved in the sting.

Oflyng responded via e-mail to an ad that advertised “little girls available.” The ad clearly advertised the children for sex. Oflyng was then contacted by telephone by an undercover officer, who offered an 11-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl. Oflyng said he wanted to have sexual intercourse with the 11-year-old girl and agreed to pay $20 extra to have sex without using a condom. Oflyng made an appointment to arrive the following morning.

Oflyng, a truck driver, arrived at the undercover location in his semi-truck tractor trailer the next morning. When he entered the residence, he confirmed that he wanted an 11-year-old girl and would pay $60, plus $20 extra for not using a condom. Oflyng handed the undercover officer the cash and was directed to a room with a dirty mattress. When he stepped into the room, he was arrested.

Under federal statutes, Oflyng is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia L. Cordes. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in conjunction with the Human Trafficking Rescue Project.

source:http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/36515/

for educational purposes only

Embattled priest works to save child prostitutes

The Irish-born missionary Rev. Shay Cullen remains unbowed as an advocate of children in the Philippines caught up in prostitution, sex trafficking, and abuse by authorities. He was bestowed the Meteor Award for his efforts.

Ordained as a priest into the Columbian Missions in 1969, Fr. Shay was assigned to the Philippines shortly after. The three times Nobel Peace Prize nominee told me how he always wanted to make a difference and do something for humanity and give help to some of those who needed it most. On Saint Patrick’s Day 2009 he was dually awarded for his contributions to the many causes close to his, and others hearts. Fr. Shay can now add a Meteor Award to that humanitarian mantle piece that is already fit to collapse from the combined weight of his many past accolades. Speaking about the award he said it will be of great benefit to Preda, and the financial reward will go towards building a new home for children, rescued from commercially exploited situations.

The Preda organisation, (People’s Recovery, Empowerment and Development Assistance), was born in 1974 while Father Shay was working in the parish of St Joseph’s in Olongopo City. “I would go out on the streets, and several times I was mistaken for a tourist, and these pimps actually offered me children for sex,” he said. “Because I didn’t dress like a priest, they knew no different,” added Cullen. It horrified him so much to see what was going on around the streets of the parish. He decided he would start campaigning to highlight what most people seemed to be turning a blind eye to.

The church in Olongopo where Fr. Shay was based was situated beside the US naval base at Subic Bay, and U.S. marines would frequent the streets and bars of Olongopo City on a regular basis.”Most of these Marines mixed in well with the locals and some even found girlfriends and eventually wives. But some individuals were involved in the exploitation of women and children on the streets and in the local bars.” It highlighted just the tip of what was a far greater problem in Father Shay’s new surroundings, and it gave him an insight and enough knowledge to start his still ongoing campaign.

Preda runs many different programs in the Philippines, dealing with several difficult and challenging issues. A lot of work is based around the humanitarian rights of women and children. “We are working for the rights of abused and exploited children, especially street kids who are in constant conflict with the law. We rescue them from the jails and give them complete rehabilitation in one of our homes.”

Up until recently, young children could be arrested and thrown into small cells, in over crowded jails, amongst adult prisoners. Father Shay succeeded in getting the practice of imprisoning these youngsters made illegal, following a very high profile campaign. However, children of fifteen years or above can still be held in Philippine jails. “Many of these children would be abused and made to act as slaves for the guards,” said the cleric. “They would be made to work, scrubbing the floors and toilets and
washing clothes. Many were turned into ‘girly-boys’ and became the sexual objects of some adult prisoners.”

Another program works with women who have been commercially, sexually exploited, and dragged into the seedy world of sex trafficking and prostitution. Working for pimps on the streets, or in one of the many, seedy sex bars. Father Shay said that most of these women would be looking for employment to earn money to help provide for their families. But people in the Philippines sex mafia would target both women and young girls, with offers of good jobs in hotels and the like.”They don’t know what they are getting into, and they find themselves in these bars and clubs, where they do not know what they are going to experience until it is too late.” He recalled an incident some years ago saying, “Preda workers rescued a young girl of only nine years old from this sex mafia.”

“The Philippines has a population of over eighty seven million people and the country¹s government is dominated by a ruling elite. These same, select elite families run the senate and congress, and corruption is widespread,” said Fr. Shay.

Father Shay exposed details of his findings to the media, hoping to shame those involved.

“The government of the Philippines tried to cover up the problem and deny that anything like this was happening. We are just trying to get the government to act justly and fairly to protect women and children. That is our message to them.”

The Philippines also attracts many so called “sex tourists” from around the world who take advantage of the high numbers of young women, trafficked into working the streets, bars and clubs. I asked Fr. Shay if he thought that Irish holiday makers were among those traveling to the Philippines for the specific reason of having sex with these young women, or with minors. “There is a huge mix of foreigners who travel to the Philippines. Many are normal, law abiding tourists. But you can be sure that when some
people travel to certain destinations, it’s only one kind of activity that they are looking for. There are even certain clubs designated to attract Irish clientele, like The Shamrock Club or Molly Malones.”

He explained what he thought was the most important message he could give the people of Ireland.”Many of these paedophiles and abusers become even more addicted when they travel abroad and can freely engage in sex with very young women and even children. They return home and become an increased danger to Irish children.”

Fr. Shay commented that Preda would pursue and bring to justice anybody that they receive information on, who are found to be abusing or exploiting women or children in the Philippines.

The women and children rescued by the organisation receive an intensive education and therapeutic recovery programme for one and a half to two years. Preda also supply further education programmes for the general public and groups such as students, teachers, police and many others.

“Irish aid is directly funding Preda’s human rights education program. And for that we are very grateful,” said the priest. “Your tax payers’ money is really benefiting the young children.”

The charity and it’s mission have also been recognised by many celebrities and sporting stars, including actors Martin Sheen and James Cromwell, singer songwriter Damien Dempsey, musician Sharon Shannon, boxing legend Bernard Dunne and golfer Padraig Harrington, to name but a few. Fr. Shay first met Sheen while the actor
was filming Apocalypse Now in Manila in1979. The two struck up a close friendship when Sheen, who himself is a well known advocate for human rights
causes, discovered the work that Fr. Shay was undertaking with Preda in the Philippines.

“We are very grateful to these celebrities for endorsing the work we are doing. It’s very important that we get these high profile individuals, who are in the public eye on a
continual basis, to take a stand with us on these issues. Anyone else can help out by logging on to our website- Preda.org where they can get information on what we are doing, contact us, or make a donation.”

With a hectic schedule that sees the cleric now jet setting all over the world, to speak out about these peoples’ plight, and promote Preda’s works. I wondered if all this was taking its toll on the cleric. What about retiring? I asked him.”None of us can retire from being a practicing disciple of the Lord. We all have to live our Christian lives in our communities to our own commitments and abilities, and this is one of my abilities,” he said. “And I won’t be abandoning my work for a long time yet,” he added passionately.

The soft spoken cleric has been arrested on countless occasions and has also received death threats. But he shrugs them off with a calming ease saying, “I suppose it’s an occupational hazard of being a missionary and campaigning for human rights. You have to keep your head, be sensible and take precautions, but that’s our job.”

Liam Gleeson writes for The Columbian Magazine, from which this article was adapted.

Info: www.preda.org.

source: http://www.energypublisher.com/article.asp?id=19781

Police unit nabs another child sex offender

The child sex trade is a global problem that affects children of all nationalities, religions, races, and socio-economic statuses.

Caught in police internet sting

Independence, MO —One by one, the special victims unit of the Independence Police Department is picking off suspects as they attempt to engage in commercial sex with children.

From Jan. 29 to 31 and March 5 to 7 detectives from the department, along with investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Kansas City Police Department conducted, under the Human Trafficking Rescue Project, a sting operation targeting customers who solicit pimps to engage in commercial sex acts with children. The “children” were advertised online at Craig’s List, although no real children were involved in the sting dubbed “Operation Guardian Angel.”

According to Matt J. Whitworth, acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, a total of seven defendants were indicted in “Operation Guardian Angel.” The sting was the first federal prosecution in the nation to charge a “John” with attempting to pay for sex with a child under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

“This operation is a direct reflection of the law enforcement officers and prosecutors directly involved in the investigation,” said Independence Police Sgt. Phil Hininger of the special victims unit. “Operations like ‘Operation Guardian Angel’ are organized and planned to facilitate the arrest and prosecution of child sex predators to endure the safety of the children in our community.”
Richard J. Oflyng, 32, of Ottawa, Kan. on Monday became the latest suspect to plead guilty to attempted commercial sex trafficking of a child.

Oflyng made the plea before U.S. District Judge Scott O. Wright. The charge was contained in a March 10, 2009 federal indictment related to “Operation Guardian Angel.”
Under federal statutes, Oflyng faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to life without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000.

source:http://www.examiner.net/news/x931213624/Police-unit-nabs-another-child-sex-offender

For educational purposes only