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Posts Tagged ‘human trafficking’

Former Long Island Bar Owner Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking, Forced Labor, and Immigration Crimes on Long Island

June 19, 2013 | by Karen

US Attorney’s Office
June 12, 2013

Antonio Rivera, a former New York bar owner, was sentences to 60 years in prison for his role in sex trafficking and forced labor networks. Additionally, two other co-conspirators, John Whaley and Jason Villaman, where charged with 25 and 30 years respectively for similar offences. These 3 individuals were convictions were the result of a four-week trial presided over by United States District Judge Sandra J. Feuerstein. The victims were Latin American immigrants who were recruited, hired, and harbored by Rivera to work as waitresses in Rivera’s bars, and then forced into engaging in sexual acts with the bar’s patrons.To read the full report from the New York FBI Field Office, click here.

In An Effort To Raise Awareness Of Human Trafficking California Requires Certain Restaurants To Post Public Notices Regarding Victims’ Rights

June 18, 2013 | by Karen

Michelle Brauer Abidoye
Ford Harrison LLP
June 10, 2013

California enacted a new law that strengthens the states continued efforts to combat human trafficking. The states initiatives primarily have been focuses on raising awareness, as well as the criminalizing human trafficking. This new law  by the California Legislature expands the reach of awareness materials through mandating that restaurants that serve alcohol to display public notices with information regarding human trafficking. To read more about Civil Code 52.6, click here.

From Nepal, a Push to End Human Trafficking

June 18, 2013 | by Karen

Sue-Lin Wong
International Herald Tribune
June 18, 2013

The International Labor Organization estimates that over half of the victims of forced labor are from the Asia-Pacific region. Leading the way in terms of policy changes and legislative action is Nepal. However, while Nepal has significant anti-human trafficking laws, their implementation presents its own obstacles of how to best enforce them. To read the full interview with Ms. Pradhan Malla about her work against human trafficking as a lawyer and advocate at Nepal’s Supreme Court, click here.

Kamala Harris dismantles Northern California sex trafficking operation

June 18, 2013 | by Karen

Mike Aldax
San Francisco Examiner
June 16, 2013

“Sex trafficking rings like the one we dismantled yesterday destroy the lives of young women and degrade the social fabric of our communities,” said Attorney General, Kamala Harris. The sex trafficking network of brothels in Northern California that was dismantled as a result of a five-month investigation is what Harris was referring to in this statement. During the raids on Thursday, June 13, at least four men have been arrested and charged with pimping and or pandering according to the California Attorney General’s Office. To read the full article, click here.

Argentine forces crack down on massive slavery ring

June 13, 2013 | by Karen

Catherine E. Schoichet
June 12, 2013
CNN

Argentinian authorities, who have expressed a need for cracking down on human trafficking within the country, raided various sites on June 12 to enforce this statement. As a result of a two year investigation, over 70 locations in 10 different provinces were busted by authorities leading to the rescue of over 200 Colombian workers. In addition to this rescue, they were able to detain 23 people who are being accused of recruiting Colombian victims into human trafficking schemes. Those recruited were forced into providing labor services to pay off the acquired traveling debts. To read more about the Argentinian raids, click here.

Traffickers selling victims in luxurious St. Louis hotels

June 11, 2013 | by Karen

Farrah Fazel
KSDK News
June 6, 2013

Luxury hotels across Saint Louis are hot spots of human trafficking. It is an unfortunate secret that the traffickers have relationships with hotel staff, unknown by managers, that makes it easy for them to sell sex to hotel guests. In response to this, Kimberly Ritter has developed a way to educate hotel employees about how to identify potential victims of human trafficking. To read the full article click here. 


 

Growth makes Brazil a hub for human trafficking

June 6, 2013 | by Karen

Astrid Prange
Deutsche Welle
June 4, 2013

While Brazil’s economy may be booming, it is also contributed to Brazil becoming an international hub of human trafficking, with illegal immigrants coming from as far away as Asia. Recently 80 laborers from Bangladesh were liberated from a suburb of Brasilia. While this dark side to Brazil’s economic and political dominance is terrible, the government has began to take serious strides in combating human trafficking and slave labor since 1995. With the upcoming global events of the World Cup and the Summer Olympic Games both being held in Brazil, the exploitation of workers has been a rise in preparation. To read the full article, click here.

Delta to Implement New Anti-Human Trafficking Program in Partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Transportation

June 6, 2013 | by Karen

Delta Airlines News
June 6, 2013

The major airlines, Delta, is continuing the commitment to combating human trafficking with releasing a new training program this summer. The program will begin this summer in conjunction with the US Customs and Border Protection’s Blue Lightning Initiative. The computer-based program will given those trained the necessary tools and information to identify and report potential human trafficking victims. Training airline employees is a great step of progress that will help prevent air transportation from being a vehicle used for the trafficking of persons. To read the full press release by Delta, click here.

Neb. session yields expansion of child services

June 6, 2013 | by Karen

Grant Schulte
San Francisco Chronicle
June 2, 2013

Legislators in Nebraska are making strides to improve and expand child services for those in the foster care and criminal justice system, as well as those juveniles who are in need of psychiatric treatment. Included in the legislation is efforts to make it easier for children to be placed in homes with friends or relatives, which is a measure that will protect many minors who fall victim to human trafficking. To read more about Nebraska’s efforts to create positive change within the child welfare system, click here.

New Human Trafficking Laws Focus on Victims

June 5, 2013 | by Karen

Maggie Clark
Stateline
May 31, 2013

Governor Rick Scott signed legislation that adds Florida to a list of states that provide survivors of human trafficking a new beginning  particularly through the removal of criminal convictions on their records if the crimes were committed under force or coercion while being trafficker. New York, Nevada, Illinois, Vermont, Maryland, Hawaii, and New Jersey are other states who have similar laws to overcome the many challenges of rehabilitation after the traumatic experience of being trafficked. To read the full article, click here.