Church to Host Awareness Event on Human Trafficking/Child Exploitation

DERBY – Walnut Hill Community Church, located at the corner of Smith and Ninth Streets in Derby is hosting a community awareness event at 7 p.m. March 1 in order to help raise awareness of the human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children in the Valley, Connecticut and around the world.  

Pastor Walt Mayhew from Walnut Hill’s Valley Campus spoke of the reason the church decided to get involved.

“The sexual exploitation and human trafficking of our children is rising dramatically. Yet many in our community are unaware. Our hope is to raise awareness by having experts in the field of social services and criminal justice share what it taking place.” Mayhew said. 

According to statistical information provided by the church human trafficking and sexual exploitation is a world-wide 99-billion-dollar industry. In CT, just since 2016 referrals to DCF of suspected domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) has risen by 7,000%. The state is broken up into six regions for statistical reporting purposes.

The region in which the Valley is located is tied for the highest rate of referrals. Since 2008 (as of third quarter, HART Data 2017) more than 800 children have been referred to Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families as being suspected of being victims of human trafficking, the youngest just being 2 years old.

“The time is at hand to raise awareness and mobilize out communities so our children can be protected and we want to do our part.” Mayhew said.

The event will feature a panel discussion/presentation by experts in the field, including:

*Annmarie Boulay: Director of Women’s Ministry Wintonbury Church & Co-founder ofThe Underground

*Jillian Gilchrest: Director of Health Professional Outreach at CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence

*Tim Palmbach: Professor & Chair of Forensic Science at the University of New Haven

*Theresa Leonard: Co-founder of The Underground, Survivor of DMST

*Yvette Young: Project Director, Human Anti-trafficking Response Team for DCF, Village for Families and Children. 

Further information can be obtained from the church’s website:

www.walnuthillcc.org/valley-campus or by calling 203-732-5220.

(This is a press release from Pastor Walt Mayhew)

State Rep. Gentile Lauds Fight Against Human Trafficking

State Representative Linda M. Gentile (D-Ansonia/Derby) is hailing Connecticut’s efforts against human trafficking.  Beginning in October, hotel and motel operators must train their staff to recognize signs of human trafficking.  The operators must also keep records of their guests.

 

In addition, the General Assembly will get annual reports from law enforcement outlining: law enforcement’s participation in federal, statewide, or regional anti-trafficking efforts; referrals related to human trafficking allegations; criteria used to determine the validity of human trafficking allegations; coordination among state and local police on trafficking cases; obstacles to investigating trafficking; the number of missing children investigations; the number of referrals from DCF related to trafficking; and the number of trafficking cases referred for prosecution.

 

“I am so proud of this legislation,” said Rep. Gentile.  “It came about thanks to the women's caucus of the General Assembly who recognized the extent of this horrible crime and urgent need to address it.  We worked side by side, across the aisle to ensure that our law would be comprehensive and effective.  Because of my commitment and that of my colleagues, Connecticut's law is model legislation for our country.”

 

Connecticut’s aggressive anti-trafficking laws have attracted the attention of law enforcement and civil rights groups across the U.S.

 

(This is a press release from Gentile's office)

DeLauro hosts event to raise awareness of human trafficking

Members of Congress sign 'Our Daughters Are Not For Sale' proclamation. / Contributed photo

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-CT., hosted an event Wednesday to raise awareness of domestic child trafficking.

Attendees heard from advocates from the Human Rights Projects for Girls and Rights4Girls, as well as from former U.S. Rep. Susan Molinari, R-N.Y.

Representatives Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-FL., co-hosted the event with DeLauro. 

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was a featured speaker.

“All across America women, teenagers and even children are being forced into prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation," DeLauro said.

"According to the Polaris Project, human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal enterprise across the globe. In America alone, an estimated 293,000 children are at risk of commercial sexual exploitation," DeLauro said.

"I am proud legislators in Connecticut have sent a bill to Governor Malloy strengthening laws against human trafficking. I look forward to seeing him sign it. 

"We must start working towards concrete and meaningful action against domestic sex trafficking.”

This post is taken from a press release from DeLauro's office.

Lawmakers co-sponsor bill to combat human trafficking

         Naugatuck Valley female legislators were joined by all of their female colleagues in an unprecedented show of bipartisan cooperation.

        State Representatives Linda M. Gentile, Theresa Conroy and Themis Klarides joined with 54 of their female colleagues in co-sponsoring legislation to combat human trafficking.

       HB 5666 An Act Concerning the Forfeiture of Moneys and Property Related to Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking, combined two other bills on the same topic, HB 6696 and SB 1158.  
   The unanimous consensus and relative ease with which the bill made it through both chambers bespeaks a unilateral intolerance for the crime of trafficking in humans. 

     “Since females of any age are the predominant targets of this terrible crime, it just made perfect sense for this issue to be a priority of the women’s caucus,” said Gentile, D-Ansonia. 
     "Coming together and working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to achieve one common goal demonstrates that although we have our differences, the women in our legislature are not paralyzed by partisan politics.”

     Among its provisions, HB 5666 will:

• Increase criminal penalties for persons patronizing a prostitute under the age of 18;

• Allow the Superior Court to vacate criminal convictions for prostitution involving victims of human trafficking;

• Lower the burden of proof for sex trafficking minors;

• Require the forfeiture of criminal assets derived from commercial sexual exploitation of a minor;

• Add funds and property related to prostitution and 3rd degree promoting prostitution to the types of property subject to forfeiture as tainted  funds and property related to sexual exploitation and human trafficking;

• Require public awareness and education about services for human trafficking victims;

• Direct the Trafficking in Persons Council to identify further deficiencies in general statutes and report to the Judiciary Committee by 1/2014.

    Conroy, D-Seymour, said, “Prostitution is not a victimless crime. Every year women and children are forced into the meat grinder that is the sex industry. Together we passed legislation that targets those that profit from prostitution and hits them in the wallet.”

     “Human trafficking is a disturbing and, sadly, lucrative industry that targets our most vulnerable citizens,” said Klarides, Deputy House Republican Leader. “I’m proud we were able to come together and strengthen penalties for the sick individuals who patronize and perpetuate the sex trade.”


This post is taken from a press release from Gentile's office.

Conroy hails bill cracking down on prostitution, human trafficking

HARTFORD - State Rep. Theresa Conroy, D-Seymour, hailed House passage of legislation (HB 5666) that strengthens the state’s human trafficking and prostitution laws.

“Prostitution is not a victimless crime,” Conroy said. “Every year women and children are forced into the meat grinder that is the sex industry. This legislation targets those that profit from prostitution and hits them in the wallet.”

According to the state’s Permanent Commission of the Status of Women, the state identified 100 human trafficking victims between 2008 and 2011 – 82 were children and all were female.

The Commission's executive director, Teresa Younger said, “We applaud the members of the House on their passing of an enlightened piece of public policy that strengthens the laws on the books and sends a very clear message about how seriously Connecticut takes the deplorable crime of human trafficking.”

This bill closes a loophole in current law (Public Act 10-112) that establishes a civil forfeiture procedure for seize tainted funds and property from sexual offenses. 
The law currently does not include prostitution and promoting prostitution on the list of offenses that would trigger a forfeiture of funds or property. 

The legislation increases criminal penalties for anyone hiring persons under the age of 18 for sex, makes it easier to convict the perpetrators of human trafficking and allows the courts to vacate criminal convictions involving victims of trafficking.

This information is taken from a press release from Conroy's office.