FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Arlington, VA— Shared Hope International applauds the Senate, particularly the leadership of Senators John Cornyn, Patty Murray and Harry Reid, for reaching a bi-partisan agreement that passed with a 99-0 vote and moved the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA) forward to the House of Representatives. The amendment ensures that law enforcement will receive funding for training and that victims of sex trafficking will be able to receive comprehensive services on their path towards restoration.

“I commend Senators Cornyn, Reid and Murray on their unwavering commitment to bring justice to victims of trafficking. My own time in Congress provided a constant reminder that it takes much courage and passion to remain steadfast in your moral grounding, and today’s vote proves that the Senate is still able to put human rights above politics.” –Congresswoman Linda Smith, President and Founder Shared Hope International (U.S. Congress 1995-1999).

Shared Hope has supported the advancements of the JVTA since it was introduced in 2013. Not only will the bill provide much needed funding for law enforcement and survivors, it will also:

1. Clarify current law and codify federal appellate case law confirming that the conduct of buyers who “solicit” and “patronize” commercial sex with a child are committing the crime of sex trafficking. Buyers of sex acts with children fuel sex trafficking markets. Without demand, traffickers will lose their profits, and countless children will be spared the horrors of sexual exploitation.
2. Authorize state and local law enforcement to obtain wiretaps in state courts, without federal approval, to investigate trafficking and CSEC offenses more effectively.
3. Hold predators accountable for the harms they cause. The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act would require certain federal offenders to pay an additional special assessment of $5,000 upon conviction for child sexual exploitation, human trafficking and other related crimes. The assessment, which would be payable after orders of restitution and criminal fines are paid in full by the offender, would be directed into the Domestic Trafficking Victims’ Fund to help pay for victim services and law enforcement prevention efforts.

With the JVTA’s successful passage out of the Senate today, advocates are now turning their attention to the House of Representatives and the President to ensure that this critical legislation is passed!

MEDIA CONTACT

Taryn Offenbacher, Director of Communications
Taryn@sharedhope.org | 602-818- 3955

SHARED HOPE POLICY INITIATIVES

The Protected Innocence Challenge is a comprehensive study of state laws. Under the Challenge, every state receives a Report Card that grades the state on 41 key legislative components that must be addressed in a state’s laws in order to effectively respond to the crime of domestic minor sex trafficking. In addition, each state receives a complete analysis of this 41-component review and practical recommendations for improvement.

MEDIA MATERIALS

For media convenience, a variety of video clips and resources, including sex trafficking survivor comments, are available at this location: https://vimeo.com/user12564384/videos. Videos are password protected, please contact Taryn Offenbacher for access.

ABOUT SHARED HOPE INTERNATIONAL: Shared Hope International was founded in 1998, by former U.S. Congresswoman Linda Smith, and exists to prevent, restore, and bring justice women and children in crisis. We are leaders in a worldwide effort to eradicate sex trafficking and slavery.  www.sharedhope.org.

Arlington, VA— On Wednesday, April 15, the Kids Are Not For Sale in Virginia Coalition held a joint press conference with Delegate Tim Hugo and Senator Mark Obenshain in Richmond to officially announce the enactment of HB 1964 and SB 1188, establishing Virginia’s first standalone sex trafficking law. Companion bills HB 1964 and SB 1188 were signed into law on March 27 by Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe.

“I would like to thank my friend, Delegate Tim Hugo, and Senator Mark Obenshain for leading the Virginia General Assembly to unanimously adopt this vital legislation, Linda Smith, President and Founder of Shared Hope International said. “The collaboration and effort put forth by Virginia legislators, the Kids Are Not For Sale Coalition, and Virginia residents who helped advocate for this law serves as a testament to the Commonwealth’s commitment to combat child sex trafficking.”

This legislation was championed by Chief Patron Delegate Timothy Hugo (HB 1964) and Chief Patron Senator Mark Obenshain (SB 1188). Shared Hope International implemented the Kids Are Not For Sale campaign to advocate for the enactment of a strong sex trafficking law in Virginia. The Coalition consists of Virginia law enforcement, prosecutors, service providers, advocacy groups, schools, and hospitals who joined together to advocate for this landmark legislation.

This law:

• Clearly defines and establishes the offense of sex trafficking.
• Establishes penalties that reflect the seriousness of the offense.
• Specifically criminalizes child sex trafficking as a Class 3 felony without requiring prosecutors prove that force, intimidation or deception was used to cause the minor to engage in commercial sexual conduct given the way the traffickers recruit minors by preying on their vulnerability and trust.
• Assists in protecting and properly identifying sex trafficking victims.
• Closes a loophole in Virginia’s existing laws by criminalizing the recruitment of minors and adults for commercial sex—conduct which was not criminalized under Virginia law.

“I am grateful to my colleagues in the Virginia General Assembly for prioritizing the issue of child sex trafficking by voting unanimously to establish Virginia’s first sex trafficking law,” Delegate Timothy Hugo said. “This great success was made possible in large part through the efforts of Kids Are Not For Sale in VA, a Coalition implemented by Shared Hope International. The education and support the Coalition provided was instrumental in building momentum to pass the bill this year.”

According to Senator Mark Obenshain, “Human trafficking is the second fastest growing criminal enterprise in America, and sadly it is a problem here in Virginia. For law enforcement it is really represents the next front in the fight against child predators.”  Obenshain continued stating, “I am proud to have been the Senate patron of legislation to finally give Virginia a stand-alone sex trafficking statute.  It is a critical new tool for law enforcement to have in fighting this rapidly growing criminal enterprise. We couldn’t have done it without hard work of colleagues in the General Assembly as well as the advocacy and support of the Kids Are Not For Sale in VA Coalition.”

Media Contact
Tabatha Mansfield
Coalition Coordinator, Kids Are Not For Sale in Virginia
804-937-4001
kidsarenotforsaleinva@gmail.com

ABOUT THE KIDS ARE NOT FOR SALE IN VA COALTION: The coalition was formed to advocate for the passage and enactment of a sex trafficking statute in Virginia in 2015. Members include: Shared Hope International, Richmond Justice Initiative, Virginia Beach Justice Initiative, Regent School of Law Center for Global Justice, Anastasis International Mission, Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Initiative, Central Virginia Justice Initiative, Courtney’s House, Vessels of Mercy International, The Gray Haven, Virginia Catholic Conference, Bon Secours Virginia Health Systems, Release Me International, Virginia Trucking Association, The Family Foundation, Straight Street, Youth for Tomorrow, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Virginia, and AAUW Virginia Beach.

New Study by Shared Hope International Reveals One of America’s Greatest Threats Is Going Dangerously Unaddressed

WASHINGTON, D.C., Child sex trafficking affects an estimated 100,000 American children each year. While many states have worked aggressively to combat the crime by strengthening state laws, several states have slipped dangerously behind the nation, according to a new study by Shared Hope International.

The Protected Innocence Challenge, a report on the state of child sex trafficking laws in the U.S., found that four years of sweeping legislative advancements allowed 42 states to raise their grade. In 2014, 37 states enacted 123 bills regarding domestic minor sex trafficking, resulting in the improvement of eight state grades. Louisiana earned the highest score in the nation, a 96 per cent.

Pennsylvania, Colorado and Delaware enacted the greatest law changes, raising two grades.  View your state grade.

These improvements enable more aggressive investigation and prosecution, leaving traffickers searching for states with lower risk and greater tolerance. As neighboring states crack down, the only four remaining states with failing scores, California, Maine, Michigan and South Dakota, could become the next trafficking hotspot. Yet, the migration of trafficking activity may be more accurately linked to states with weak laws against buyers, those who fuel the trafficking industry by creating a profitable market for the crime. Two of America’s largest states, New York and California, are sorely lacking in this area and are at risk of becoming key trafficking destinations.

“While many states rose to the challenge and significantly strengthened laws to combat child sex trafficking, America’s most populous states are safety zones for predators,” Shared Hope International President and Founder Linda Smith said. “Failing to adequately address demand poses a significant threat to America’s children.”

The study found that buying sex with a minor is a felony in 50 states and in 49 states buyers could face human trafficking charges for their crime. However, many states struggle to enact laws that provide stricter penalties. California and New York are among 20 states that do not require a buyer to register as a sex offender if convicted of human trafficking. Buyers can benefit from a loophole in over 30 states that allows them to limit their liability by claiming they did not know the age of the victim.

Protected Innocence Challenge Press Conference

Watch the free livestream of the conference at sharedhope.org/events/event/2014-protected-innocence-challenge-press-conference/

Speakers:

1. Congresswoman Linda Smith, President and Founder, Shared Hope International
2. Jen Spry, RN, Sex Trafficking Survivor
3. Margie Quin, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
4. Savannah Sanders, Author and Training Coordinator, O’Connor House Safe Action Project, Sex Trafficking Survivor
5. Delegate Timothy D. Hugo, Fairfax (VA-40)