“In many States, trafficked persons do not receive remedies in a holistic manner as a matter of right, but are only provided with ad hoc measures which are predominantly aimed at facilitating criminal investigation,” she stated.

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Location: Rancho Alegre Restaurant, 402 MLK Blvd. Savannah, GA 31401

Savannah Working against Human Trafficking (SWAHT) is hosting a fundraiser fiesta on Sunday, June 26, from noon until 8 pm at Rancho Alegre Restaurant in Savannah!  Advance purchase tickets for $20 include an entrée choice (baby sirloin, roast pork, or roast chicken), non-alcoholic beverage, and gratuity.

For tickets, email joanne.garciamelendez@zont asavannah.com

Visit here to give the restaurant a look

Click here to purchase tickets

Visit here for more details

One interesting fact contained within the report: Victims of sex trafficking are proportionately younger than other trafficking victims, with 31% of the identified sex trafficking victims being under 18 years old.

The full report can be found here.

Visit here for more information and instructions for registering.

Visit here for more information and registration

The NCBTMB will also be working alongside Polaris Project to start a public outreach program about human trafficking.

Read the full article here

The summary below is available thanks to Georgia Women for a Change:

HB 200: FREEDOM FROM HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACT

HB 200 was introduced by Rep. Edward Lindsey and others to enhance accountability for human traffickers and to improve outcomes for trafficking victims. Key provisions include:

Improvements to Human Trafficking Legal Framework
• Expands the definition of “coercion” in the human trafficking statute to include causing or threatening financial harm
• Prohibits alleged traffickers from asserting any of the following as a defense to trafficking:

o The victim’s sexual history or history of commercial sexual activity

o The fact that the victim is a family member of the defendant

o The age of consent for sexual activity

o The fact that the defendant did not know the victim’s age

• Provides an affirmative defense to the sexual crimes of prostitution, sodomy, solicitation of sodomy, and masturbation for hire if the defendant was being trafficked for sexual servitude.
Expanding Accountability for Traffickers
• Increases the penalties for human trafficking

o The penalty for trafficking a person for labor or sexual servitude is 10-20 years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both.

o For victims under the age of 18, the penalty is 25-50 years or life in prison, a fine of up to $100,000, or both.

• Allows the property of traffickers to be subject to forfeiture under Georgia’s RICO statute
• Changes the penalties for keeping a place of prostitution, pimping, or pandering

o If the victim is at least 16 but less than 18 years old, the crime is a felony and punishable by 5-20 years in prison and a fine of $2,500 to $10,000.

o If the victim is under 16 years old, the crime is a felony and punishable by 10-30 years in prison and a fine of not more than $100,000.

Expanding Resources for Victims
• Allows trafficking victims to obtain Crime Victims Compensation Funds if they suffer a serious mental or emotional trauma
• Requires law enforcement and court personnel to advise trafficking victims of victim compensation available under federal law
• Requires the agencies responsible for training law enforcement to establish training regarding methods for:

o Addressing trafficking incidents

o Providing proper detention or alternatives to detention for trafficking victims

o Assisting trafficking victims,including providing information on social service organizations

Meet Justice thanks GA Women for a Change for making this readily available for the public as

Prepared by Shelley A. Senterfitt, Legislative Counsel, Georgia Women for a Change

ssenterfitt@skfamilylaw.com