This was a busy year for legislation combatting human trafficking and child sexual exploitation. In March of 2013 we were pleased about the early reauthorization of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). Included as part of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the TVPA reauthorization renewed federal protection and funding for victims of trafficking. Notably, the 2013 reauthorization for the first time includes funding for domestic minor victims of trafficking. It also extends law enforcement’s jurisdiction under the 2003 PROTECT Act to combat sex tourism and prosecute U.S. citizens who commercially sexually exploit children abroad.
Soon after TVPA was signed into law, Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA) reintroduced legislation to extend protections to child victims of trafficking within the child welfare system. The Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Human Trafficking Act of 2013 calls upon the child welfare system to develop a response to the growing problem of child trafficking. The child welfare system has become a breeding ground for trafficking. Between 60% and 80% of trafficked children having some contact with the system. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced a similar piece of legislation in the Senate focusing on the child welfare response to child sex trafficking.
Building on the interest in Washington, ECPAT-USA joined Shared Hope International and The Protection Project at Johns Hopkins University in a briefing hosted by the Joint Caucus to End Human Trafficking and the Congressional Caucus for Victims Rights on the
2012 Colloquium Report. The briefing examined the current shelter and service response to domestic minor sex trafficking. The well-attended event included distinguished panelists from the Department of Justice, survivor advocates and service providers in addition to the Executive Directors of ECPAT-USA, The Protection Project, and Shared Hope International.
With our partners at the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking, ECPAT-USA co-lead a consultation on soon- to- be-introduced business transparency legislation that will ensure that corporations work to prevent trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation from occurring within their supply chains. This unique event allowed for an open and frank discussion of the upcoming legislation with Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Chris Smith (R-NJ). It also allowed companies to provide feedback and suggestion for the congressional offices before the bill is introduced.
Over the summer and fall of 2013, members of Congress continued to demonstrate an interest in preventing the trafficking of children, with the introduction of a record five new pieces of legislation and two hearings on the subject. ECPAT-USA has been engaged in the development of most of the recently introduced legislation. Through our contacts and partnerships on the Hill, ECPAT-USA is able to ensure that legislation not only protects children from commercial sexual exploitation, but also take into consideration vulnerable and overlooked populations such as boys.
As the year comes to an end, we are looking forward to continuing to work with our partners and allies on protecting our nation’s most vulnerable children from domestic child trafficking. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding specific legislation or would like to be involved in educating members of Congress and the administration on the importance of finding lasting solutions to protect and prevent child sexual exploitation and domestic child trafficking.
