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
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