Human trafficking is the worlds fastest growing industry, according to the 2009 State Department Trafficking in Persons Report over 80% of those victimized by transnational trafficking are women and children. According to the International Labor Organization (End of Child Labor Within Reach 2006), each year, some 1.2 million children are trafficked for the purposes of labor, while another 1 million are trafficked into the sex trade.
Do watch the news, read news articles, or my blog posts and question what you can actually do that will make a difference? Feel you are stretched for time or don’t have any money to give? Well there is something that you can do today to help end child trafficking. Help those in the field, and other concerned citizens like yourself to pass the Child Protection Compact Act of 2009 (HR 2737). The bill was introduced by Chris Smith, U.S. Representative for New Jersey’s 4th District, a leader in the fight against modern slavery. However the introduction of the CPCA is only the beginning in what is often a long legislative process, one that can only be successful with a united voice of the American voter.
Now is your chance to use your voice and put your vote to the test, as when it comes down to it the voice that is heard on the hill begins with you. Members of Congress look to their constituents for direction and support, and we need you to take the opportunity now to let your representatives know what matters most not only in your district, but across the country. Therefore let us all unite together to urge Members of Congress to support the Child Protection Compact Act (CPCA)of 2009, and together we can see that we move one step closer to bringing an end to modern slavery.
What does the Child Protection Compact Act (HR 2737) mean?
This groundbreaking legislation seeks to eradicate trafficking in children by focusing on assistance and collaboration with eligible individual countries through the implementation of Child Protection Compacts. Many countries have passed anti-trafficking, child labor, child marriage, and similar laws to combat modern slavery, however there is not always the means to enforce these laws. The lack of enforcement of such laws continues to leave children unprotected. The CPCA would help enforce anti-trafficking laws in targeted countries by providing them with technical assistance and training. These target countries are ones who have shown a level of political will to fight human trafficking, but have been without adequate resources, know-how, and the capacity to follow up with survivors. Therefore if enacted, the CPCA will offer additional resources for the targeted countries law enforcement, victim protection services, and deterrence through the apprehension and prosecution of human traffickers.
SEC. 6. CHILD PROTECTION COMPACT.
(a) Compact- The Secretary, acting through the Ambassador, may provide assistance for a country only if the country enters into an agreement with the United States, to be known as a ‘Child Protection Compact’, that establishes a 3-year plan for achieving shared objectives in furtherance of the purposes of this Act.
(b) Elements- The Compact should take into account the national child protection strategy of the country and shall contain–
(1) the specific objectives that the country and the United States expect to achieve during the term of the Compact;
(2) the responsibilities of the country and the United States in the achievement of such objectives;
(3) the particular programs or initiatives to be undertaken in the achievement of such objectives and the amount of funding to be allocated to each program or initiative;
(4) regular benchmarks to measure, where appropriate, progress toward achieving such objectives, including benchmarks for each program or initiative;
(10) the strategy of the country to sustain progress made toward achieving such objectives after expiration of the Compact.
What can you do?
Get a meeting with, call, write, e-mail the Congressional Representative and,or Senators in your home state and district. Let them know how important it is to you that we abolish modern-day slavery in our time, and give a voice to children across our country that have been silenced by the invisible chains of modern slavery. This is essential in all 50 states as we work to get this bill to the next stage of life, and closer to being a reality.
If you have reason to suspect that someone is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline on 1-888-373-7888. Multilingual call specialists are on standby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All calls are confidential.
