We can do plenty in fight against human trafficking

By Shams Ghoneim

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At a recent meeting of the Consultation of Religious Communities, I was stunned to hear former state Sen. Maggie Tinsman's presentation on human trafficking in Iowa. Documented cases took place in Williamsburg, Cedar Rapids, Decorah, Davenport and Council Bluffs, with a pending case in Iowa City.

In 2000, Iowa had no law pertaining to human trafficking, but one was passed later that year and was strengthened in 2003. In 2006, Iowa became the 14th state to criminalize human trafficking, making it a serious felony with social services available to victims regardless of immigration status. It also made training available to law enforcement officials.

In 2008, the Iowa Law was used to convict Leonard Ray Russell of human trafficking and other charges for bringing two young teens from Omaha to Denison for the purpose of prostitution and performance in strip clubs. The girls were taught to negotiate for sex, and to turn over all proceeds to Russell in exchange for food, shelter, transportation and clothing. Russell was accused of recruiting and harboring the two runaway girls (ages 15 and 16) for the purpose of commercial human and sexual trafficking.

Iowa has come along way since 2000 and federal human trafficking legislation is also in place, including:

l Trafficking Victims Prevention Act (TVPA) in 2000, created a two-tiered definition of trafficking, in people and for sex, with severe punishments of up to life imprisonment and the possibility of severe financial sanctions.

l Trafficking Victims Prevention Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) in 2003, reauthorized appropriations for fiscal years 2004 and 2005, and created a special watch list to keep pressure on all countries. It added new criteria for the State Department to consider in drafting the trafficking in persons report, and evaluating progress from year to year.

l William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (H.R. 7311) enhanced federal efforts to combat both international and domestic traffic in human beings.

What can we do?

1) Use the new Human Trafficking Free Training Course (online at http://rcpinetwork.uis.edu/human_trafficking_program_on-line_course.htm) to build awareness among local law enforcement officers.

2) Report trafficking and get help by calling a Department of Justice complaint Line at 1-(888) 428-7581 (voice and TTY).

3) Call the FBI, Iowa General Attorney's office, and local police. Do not take action yourself.

4) Call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center if you think you have encountered a victim: 1-(888) 373-7888.

5) Community education of teenagers and college students.

6) Media coverage and publicity.

7) Create a human trafficking project committee in our cities.

8) Involve religious communities.

9) Learn how to identify victims. They are bruised, depressed, never alone, do not speak English, have adults speak for them, and without passport or identification.

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery, involving many victims - men, women and children - who are forced, defrauded or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation. Annually, at least 600,000 people, mostly women and children, are trafficked across national borders - which does not count those trafficked within their own countries. Slave traders can make $250,000 per victim.

Human trafficking is a civil and human rights crime as well as a public health threat and must be stopped.

Shams Ghoneim of Iowa City is Coordinator, Muslim Public Affairs Council/Iowa, and participant in the Consultation of Religious Communities, an Iowa City-based interfaith council composed of more than 30 religious communities and related agencies of Johnson County. Comments: shamsghoneim@mchsi.com