Tag Archives: task force

News, Wisconsin

Human trafficking cases rise in Wisconsin, U.S.

Leave a comment

New data show a 17 percent increase in the number of human trafficking cases handled in Wisconsin in 2015 and an increase of 24 percent nationwide.

Polaris, a leader in the global fight to eradicate modern slavery, released data earlier in February from the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline and the BeFree Textline. The organization’s numbers do not represent the full scope of the problem, but rather the incoming calls for help.

There were 50 cases of human trafficking reported to the hotline from Wisconsin in 2015, including 45 cases of sex trafficking and three cases of labor trafficking.

In 2014, Polaris reported 43 cases of human trafficking from Wisconsin.

Since 2007, the organization has received reports of 205 cases in the state.

Nationwide, the increase in the number of cases was larger — 24 percent from 2014 to 2015 and an increase of 519 percent since 2008.

There were 5,973 cases of human trafficking reported to the hotline and the BeFree textline in 2015. Most of these cases involved reports of sex trafficking and about 30 percent of the survivors or victims were identified as U.S. citizens.

“From the domestic servant forced to work for little pay who required emergency shelter to the young girl made to sell sex online against her will who texted us for crisis support, survivors of human trafficking are reaching out to the national hotline more than ever,” said Bradley Myles, CEO of Polaris. 

Also, recent research by Northeastern University funded by the National Institute of Justice found that posting the number to the hotline in public areas is one of the most effective ways to increase the number of human trafficking arrests. The hotline has collected more than 6,500 tips since 2007.

Myles said, “More survivors calling the national hotline means more women, children and men are being connected to life-changing support through the incredible work of more than 3,000 service-provider partners across the country.”

In Wisconsin, those partners — prosecutors, police officers, social workers, educators, victims advocates, lawyers and other professionals — have begun meeting as a task force to address eradicating modern-day slavery. The task force consists of 37 members representing public and private agencies and is co-chaired by Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel and Department of Children and Families Secretary Eloise Anderson.

At the task force’s first meeting in late 2015, the attorney general’s office shared the case of a 15-year-old girl rescued from sex-traffickers by Department of Justice agents. Undercover officers found information for the girl, missing from her home for months, posted on an Internet site under “escort.” 

“We challenged everyone in the room to make this a true working group — one that works to improve training, law enforcement, prevention, awareness, advocacy, resources for victims seeking help, sensible legislation, counseling and other direct services to survivors, housing for survivors and aftercare,” Schimel said after the meeting.

Task force members emphasized their work on this issue requires putting aside partisanship and politics.

“We have an amazing multi-disciplinary group from all across the state,” Schimel stated. “If anyone can accomplish something, it is this group.”

A month after the task force’s first meeting, legislators introduced SB 618, legislation intended to make certain that child victims of human trafficking can access services. Through a loophole in the law, child victims of human trafficking are not automatically eligible for services made available to victims of child abuse. 

The measure also would require the reporting of suspected abuse — child prostitution and sex-trafficking — to a law enforcement or social services agency, possibly leading to earlier intervention in cases.

The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety held a hearing on the measure on Feb. 1.

On the line

The National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline is 1-888-373-7888. Reach the Polaris BeFree textline at 233733.

Recognition in Racine

Karri Hemmig on Feb. 2 received the first “Unsung Hero Award” from Racine Mayor John Dickert for her work with the Racine Coalition Against Human Trafficking. “I don’t know that people realize that for years, Karri worked without a salary to make sure the lives of our women and men, boys and girls who have become victims of human trafficking are rescued from a perilous future,” Dickert said.
— L.N.

News, Wisconsin

Wisconsin Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force meets, sets goals

Leave a comment

The Wisconsin Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force held its first meeting recently, with 37 members from public and private organizations sharing their experiences of the sexual exploitation of young people and their efforts to eradicate modern day slavery.

Victim advocates, as well as the results of investigations nationwide, have identified Wisconsin as a hub of human trafficking. 

The nonpartisan task force is co-chaired by Attorney General Brad Schimel and Department of Children and Families Secretary Eloise Anderson, who ended the meeting with a challenge. 

“We challenged everyone in the room to make this a true working group — one that works to improve training, law enforcement, prevention, awareness, advocacy, resources for victims seeking help, sensible legislation, counseling and other direct services to survivors, housing for survivors, and aftercare,” Schimel said, according to a news release. “We have to protect our children and what we saw in the room was a group of people who are willing to work hard and to show progress.” 

Just a few weeks ago, a 15-year-old girl was rescued from the sex trafficking by DOJ-Division of Criminal Investigation agents. Undercover officers found her information posted on an Internet site under “escort.” She had been reported missing since late October. 

“Every time we get a glimpse of this crime, we are alarmed with what we see,” Schimel stated. “We ask ourselves, ‘How can this be happening?’ We have an amazing multi-disciplinary group from all across this state. If anyone can accomplish something, it is this group.” 

Human Trafficking exists in small and large cities, towns and villages, both urban and suburban. A statement from the task force said municipalities with truck stops or clusters of inexpensive motels can be centers for human trafficking, which is why one player in the effort to combat the crime is Truckers Against Trafficking.

The task force is working with local and regional human workgroups to better coordinate prevention, training, data collection and service delivery efforts. Through enhanced planning, resources and communication, the state-level task force will offer additional support to existing efforts, increase public awareness of the issue, create statewide practices and expand residential and community-based services throughout Wisconsin.

The task force will oversee five work groups: Training; Identification and Screening; Prevention and Public Awareness; Placement and Services; and Data.

Schimel said, “We heard from many eloquent and passionate advocates today and there are many more in the room who did not have a chance to talk simply because there was not enough time at this first meeting. I challenge you to hold this task force’s feet to the fire and demand that we do something.

“There is so much we know we need to do to prevent the spread of this scourge and to turn victims into survivors. If we do our work well, we can make our social services and criminal justice systems friendly and more welcoming places for victims. Until they truly believe they can count on us to really help, they will not come forward.” 

LGBT, News, Progressive

Congressional caucus forms Transgender Equality Task Force

Leave a comment

The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus announced on Nov. 17 the creation of the new Transgender Equality Task Force, to be chaired by Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif.

“To this day, transgender people face formidable barriers in employment, housing, health, education and other areas. And to end the ongoing violence and discrimination transgender people experience, we need everyone’s help and support,” said Victoria Rodriguez-Roldan of the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund.

The task force will work to develop legislation and other initiatives to ensure that transgender people have equal access and treatment under the law.

Members of the task force include U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley of Illinois, Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Eleanor Holmes Norton of D.C., Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Joe Kennedy of Massachusetts and Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey.

“This week, as we seek to raise awareness of the issues facing the trans community, it is important to renew our commitment to help trans individuals be free of the fear of violence or bullying just for being who they are,” said Honda. “It is my hope that by launching this workforce and holding a first-ever forum, we will reach some of my colleagues and encourage them to stand with the trans community. It is only through social change that we can truly elevate the conversation in this country and reach a place of true understanding and embrace all people for who they are.”

Viral

Atlanta to host national LGBT conference

Leave a comment

The National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce has announced that Atlanta will host the 25th National Conference on LGBT Equality. 

More than 3,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights advocates from across the nation are expected to meet at the Hilton in downtown Atlanta Jan. 23-27 for more than 15 networking sessions, symposiums, interfaith services and more.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas is slated to headline a session on immigration issues featuring a panel of LGBT DREAM Act organizers, and Frenchie Davis – a Grammy-nominated singer and former “American Idol” contestant – is scheduled to perform at the closing session.

Organizers say the conference is focused on gathering LGBT advocates just after the presidential inauguration to discuss strategies to build political power.

On the Web…

Creating Change: http://www.creatingchange.org

Viral

LGBT groups survey the ‘fiscal cliff’

Leave a comment

A report from a coalition of LGBT groups details the negative effects that sequestration would have on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans in employment, health, housing, higher education, and safety.

The Center for American Progress, in partnership with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and 23 other national LGBT groups, released the study, “Caught in the Budget Battle: How the ‘Fiscal Showdown’ Impacts Gay and Transgender Americans.”

Looking at the conclusions in the paper, center vice president Jeff Krehely said, “Sequestration in particular would inflict significant harm by requiring wholesale cuts to programs that are critical to the health, wellness, and livelihood of LGBT people and their families. We cannot afford to let that happen.”

Many federal programs, directly and indirectly, support and serve the LGBT population. If across-the-board budget cuts go into effect, LGBT leaders are concerned about:

• Threats to the employment security of LGBT workers “because federal agencies would have fewer resources to investigate claims of employment discrimination.”

Under sequestration, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces federal employment discrimination laws, would see an automatic cut to its budget in 2013 that will continue through 2021 if no budget resolution is reached after sequestration occurs.

• Lower quality health care for LGBT families because of reduced program funding used to address their health care needs.

For elder LGBT Americans, sequestration would cut Medicare payments to doctors, hospitals and other health care providers for 2013.

• The absence of critical resources from government agencies working to combat bullying and school violence against LGBT youth.

For LGBT youth, sequestration would reduce funding for agencies within the Department of Education and Department of Justice responsible for investigating bullying claims against students based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

• Limited ability of federal government to address the high rates of homelessness among LGBT youth.

• Limited governmental capacity to prevent discrimination in housing against LGBT renters, tenants and potential homeowners.

With fewer resources, the report maintains, it would become more difficult for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to enforce relatively new federal regulations prohibiting discrimination against LGBT renters, tenants, and potential homeowners. Sequestration would greatly undermine the progress made over the past four years toward ending housing discrimination among the population.

• Hampered governmental efforts to prevent violent crime against LGBT people through enforcement of hate crimes legislation.

“Lives are literally on the line if Congress lets our country tumble off this cliff. LGBT people and our families — like so many families — are already struggling in this recovering economy, and draconian budget cuts will only make things worse,” said Rea Carey of NGLTF.

Viral

Baltimore to host Creating Change

Leave a comment

About 2,500 LGBT activists will head to Baltimore this month for the national Creating Change conference, the largest gay convention in the country.

The conference is set for Jan. 25 to Jan. 29, with NAACP president Benjamin Jealous delivering the keynote speech on Jan. 26.

The conference is organized by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and will feature Rea Carey, the organization’s executive director, delivering the annual “State of the Movement” address.

Organizers this month are finalizing plans for a lobby day on Capitol Hill and dozens of workshops.