Nancy Mion & Judith McGinn
NYS Public Policy Directors

Human Trafficking is an ongoing issue in the world

There is a list of great talking points created by Frances Close and Nancy Mion for you to use with both your legislators and acquaintances who may not be familiar with this issue.

Here's a short message with some documentation on the importance of fighting this issue. There is also a sample letter you can send to Speaker Silver and your own representative.

For more information on this urgent issue, check the following websites:

HUMAN TRAFFICKING WEBSITES with a GLOBAL FOCUS

• American Association of University Women
• Anti-slavery International www.anti-slavery.org
• Campus Coalition Against Trafficking www.ccatcoalition.org
• Free the Children www.freethechildren.org
• Free the Slaves www.freetheslaves.net
• Human Rights Center , Univ.CA. Berkeley www.hrcberkeley.org
• Human Rights Watch: Campaign Against the Trafficking of Women and Girls www.hrw.org/about/projects/traffcamp/intro.html
• Office of the High Comm. For Human Rights www.ohchr.org
• Polaris Project For a World Without Slavery www.PolarisProject.org

Films -

• Born into Brothels
• Anonymously Yours

The following resolution was passed at the 2006 AAUW-NYS Convention:

Resolution on Human Trafficking

WHEREAS AAUW condemns the scourge of human trafficking, modern day slavery of women and children, a violation of human rights, and

WHEREAS trafficking is the coercion and controlling of persons who are transported across geographic borders, and

WHEREAS victims of trafficking that are arrested on charges of prostitution should be entitled to an affirmative defense; such laws must not punish or further terrorize victims, and

WHEREAS traffickers use coercive methods to draw individuals into sexual and/or labor servitude, and

WHEREAS there must be a clear and well-defined zero tolerance policy for recruiters, traffickers, pimps, sex tour operators and all those who perpetuate and profit from the trafficking industry, and

WHEREAS the adoption of such relevant laws should be backed by rigorous enforcement, and

WHEREAS we recognize the harm done to trafficking victims and advocate for provision of legal and rehabilitative services, restitution, and immunity from prosecution.

BE IT RESOLVED AAUW NYS will fight the heinous crime of human trafficking including but not limited to having the NYS AAUW President write letters to our state legislators urging passage of the anti-trafficking bills: A 1898-b as introduced on May 23, 2005; and, S. 6231 as introduced on January 4, 2006; and urge Governor George Pataki to sign it into law.

Submitted by Trafficking Committee, NYC Branch