February 1, 2010

State Legislatures Lead the Way on Anti-Trafficking Law and Policy

Since 2001, the Center has supported state legislators in their efforts to respond to the trafficking of women and girls into the United States – and into each of the 50 states – for forced labor and involuntary servitude. We are proud to report that 41 states now have passed laws that criminalize trafficking in persons. In 2009, New Hampshire and North Dakota joined 39 other states to establish trafficking as a state felony offense.

But criminalization is only the first step. In 2010, the Center will continue to work with state legislators and community leaders on new initiatives to:

*protect trafficked persons from harm and provide all forms of medical, social, educational, and economic services for women and girls who have been victimized by trafficking;

*create a Statewide Inter-Agency Task Force to study the nature and extent of trafficking into the state and propose state-specific remedies;

*regulate international marriage brokers that operate in the state;

*regulate travel service providers operating in the state that facilitate illegal sex tourism.

[click here to download the Center’s Resource Guide for State Legislators and its model provisions for all of these state anti-trafficking laws].

DONATE NOW to support our state initiatives in 2010

In 2009, Florida created a Statewide Task Force on Human Trafficking, Texas allowed victims to bring civil actions against perpetrators, and Washington regulated international labor recruitment agencies to protect their recruits who often are vulnerable to being trafficked. To learn more about the highlights of state legislative efforts in 2009, click here for the Center’s 2010 State Anti-Trafficking Laws Fact Sheet

Click here to learn more about the Center’s US PACT (Policy Advocacy to Combat Trafficking) programs -- including links to all state anti-trafficking laws and to the Center’s Resource

DONATE NOW to support US PACT in 2010!