Don't Mess with (sex trafficking in) Texas

On May 27th, Texas proved it's taking the fight against trafficking very seriously.

AUSTIN -- Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today joined Gov. Rick Perry today at a ceremony where the governor signed human trafficking prevention legislation into law. The new law, which was sponsored by Sen. Leticia Van de Putte and Rep. Senfronia Thompson, implements legislative recommendations from the Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force, which is chaired by Attorney General Abbott.

(Excerpt courtesy of Star Local News; Staff Reports)

Under this enhanced law, convictions will carry harsher sentences and child victims will be given greater protection. A tremendous victory!

Read the full report from Star Local News: http://www.scntx.com/articles/2011/05/27/news_update/414.txt

New York News

This past week, three men from Suffolk County, LI, were arrested, charged and later convicted on Thursday of sex trafficking. Operating out of Latin-themed bars, victims were lured with promises of 'waitressing jobs' and were forced to perform sex acts on patrons, only to be raped or beaten if they refused.

While more traffickers continue to operate here in New York, the US and beyond, the conviction of these men is still a victory.

Read the full article, written by Timothy Bolger, on LongIslandPress.com:

http://www.longislandpress.com/2011/05/27/3-men-convicted-of-sex-trafficking-women-at-suffolk-bars/

(photo courtesy of Ethan Stokes/LongIslandPress.com)

Watch Rachel Lloyd's Senate Testimony

Rachel Lloyd is one of the most celebrated and powerful activists within the anti-trafficking community and is the founder of GEMS, an anti-trafficking organization and the only one in NY state that assists young girls and women who have been commercially exploited and domestically trafficked.

Click on the link below to watch Rachel and Shaquanna, a GEMS employee and former trafficking victim, testify before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law about human trafficking. This 20-minute video provides an amazing account of the nature of trafficking and how anti-trafficking services can help girls rebuild their lives from two very inspirational and powerful women.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HBo9vREVBQ

To learn more about GEMS, visit their website:

http://www.gems-girls.org/

In Their Own Words

There's no better way to learn about human trafficking than from victims themselves.

Visit the Polaris Project link below to read survivor stories:

http://www.polarisproject.org/what-we-do/client-services/survivor-stories