Gov.
Blagojevich announces start of tougher laws against human
trafficking and a campaign to help victims Send a link to a friend
Letter
calls on U.S. Defense Department to implement strong policy against
human trafficking
New human
trafficking law took effect Jan. 1, establishing Illinois as a
nationwide leader in combating human trafficking
[JAN. 3, 2006]
CHICAGO -- With Illinois' tough new law against
human trafficking taking effect Jan. 1, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich sent
a letter Dec. 30 to U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld urging
the Pentagon to follow the lead of states like Illinois and stop
delaying a proposed anti-human-trafficking policy that would apply
to defense contractors.
Blagojevich signed
House Bill 1469 in June creating the Trafficking of Persons and
Involuntary Servitude Act. Since then, the governor has instructed
several state agencies to join with the federal government, the
Chicago Police Department, and over 80 other statewide and local
organizations in Illinois to form a coalition to combat the growing
problem of human trafficking.
"As the nation and as states like Illinois initiate new efforts
to put an end to human trafficking, I am particularly troubled by
the U.S. Defense Department's apparent inaction on a new policy that
would ensure that contractors are not engaging in or supporting the
very activities we are trying to eliminate," the governor wrote to
Rumsfeld.
"Every year, an estimated 14,000 to 17,500 people are trafficked
into the United States. In fact, human trafficking is tied with the
illegal arms industry as the second-largest criminal industry in the
world today. Here in Illinois, we are taking a serious and
aggressive approach to ending human trafficking and forced labor. It
is time for our foreign policy on human trafficking to reflect these
same values," the governor added.
Three years ago, President Bush declared a "zero tolerance"
policy for human trafficking, and two years ago, Congress also
adopted that stance. But according to recent news reports, the
Pentagon has yet to adopt a policy banning human trafficking and has
stalled on a proposal banning defense contractors from using forced
labor.
Illinois' new Trafficking of Persons and Involuntary Servitude
Act defines and establishes penalties for the offenses of
involuntary servitude, sexual servitude of a minor and human
trafficking for forced labor and services. Forcing any person into
servitude will range from a Class 1 to a Class X felony if
kidnapping or injury is involved. The new law allows for restitution
to pay back a victim for forced labor, and it authorizes the
Illinois attorney general to seize an offender's assets upon
conviction. The proceeds from the forfeited assets will in turn be
distributed to the units of local and state law enforcement that
conduct the investigations and to a fund dedicated to helping
victims.
The law allows the Illinois Department of Human Services to
provide emergency victim services and applies to all instances of
human trafficking, sexual servitude of a minor or domestic
servitude, whether a victim is a U.S. citizen or not. The new act
allows law enforcement officials in the state of Illinois to certify
to the federal government that a person is a victim of human
trafficking, making it easier for potential victims to access
services.
The U.S. government estimates that 14,000-17,500 people are
trafficked into the United States annually. Victims are trafficked
across international borders from such regions as Southeast Asia,
Latin America, the former Soviet Union and Africa to work in labor
and sex trades. After drug dealing, human trafficking is tied with
the illegal arms industry as the second-largest criminal industry in
the world today, and it is the fastest growing. Trafficking of U.S.
citizens is also a growing concern, particularly in cases of girls
forced or coerced into prostitution.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services -- in
conjunction with Blagojevich and several state agencies -- has a
comprehensive Rescue and Restore campaign to combat human
trafficking. A major component is the toll-free Trafficking
Information and Referral Hotline, 1 (888) 3737-888. This helps
organizations and victims of trafficking by providing instant
referrals to pre-screened aid organizations in their city.
Illinois was the first state to form this unique collaboration
with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, making it a
model that federal officials are asking other states to emulate.
Under Blagojevich's leadership, Illinois is mounting a statewide
response to human trafficking. A statewide steering committee of 17
organizations has been established. The committee has already
crafted a vision and mission and has identified its five core goals
of outreach, training, service coordination, prosecution and data
collection. These goals will serve as guideposts to local teams
across the state as they implement local responses.
The Illinois Rescue and Restore campaign will train potential
first responders -- law enforcement, health care workers, social
workers and other service providers -- to spot possible victims and
direct them into victim services. The Illinois Department of Human
Services produced the largest human trafficking awareness training
to date on Nov. 1, 2005. The two-hour event was broadcast via
satellite across the state, reaching over 300 social service and
health care workers. Other states were also able to access the
training, and a video recording will soon be posted online for
people to view free of charge. The Illinois Rescue and Restore
campaign also hosted an event in November at the Chicago Police
Department where more than 90 community and faith-based
representatives learned about human trafficking.
Training law enforcement personnel is crucial to
stopping human trafficking. The Illinois State Police is planning to
train and develop protocol for its approximately 1,800 sworn police
officers beginning this spring. The Illinois State Police is also
working in conjunction with the Regional Institute for Community
Policingand the Chicago Police Department on a model that
can be used for all police forces across the state.
If you suspect an incidence of human trafficking, call the
toll-free Trafficking Information and Referral Hotline,1 (888) 3737-888. To join the Illinois Rescue
and Restore Campaign, visit
www.dhs.state.il.us/projectsinitiatives/trafficking. For more
information on the national Rescue and Restore Campaign, visit
www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking.
* * *
Text of governor's letter to the secretary of defense:
Office of the Governor
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Rod R. Blagojevich
Governor
December 30, 2005
Secretary of Defense Donald H.
Rumsfeld
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000
Dear Secretary Rumsfeld:
The Chicago Tribune recently ran a
series that called attention to the disturbing increase in human
trafficking and forced labor both in the United States and abroad.
As the nation and as states like Illinois initiate new efforts to
put an end to human trafficking, I was particularly troubled by the
U.S. Defense Department's apparent inaction on a new policy that
would ensure that contractors are not engaging in or supporting the
very activities we are trying to eliminate.
Every year, an estimated 14,000-17,500
people are trafficked into the United States. In fact, human
trafficking is tied with the illegal arms industry as the second
largest criminal industry in the world today.
Here in Illinois, we are taking a
serious and aggressive approach to ending human trafficking and
forced labor. On January 1, the new Trafficking of Persons and
Involuntary Servitude Act goes into effect, creating harsh felony
penalties for anyone responsible for involuntary servitude, sexual
servitude of a minor or human trafficking for forced labor and
services. In addition, we are the first state to work with the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services on building a coalition that
will train thousands of police officers, social workers and citizens
to identify the victims of this modern form of slavery, and offer
assistance so that victims can regain their freedom.
It is time for our foreign policy on
human trafficking to reflect these same values. Three years ago,
President Bush declared a "zero tolerance" policy for human
trafficking, and two years ago, Congress also adopted that stance.
Unfortunately, the Pentagon has yet to adopt a policy banning human
trafficking, and has stalled on a proposal banning defense
contractors from using forced labor. It is time for the Pentagon to
take aggressive action against these deplorable crimes and protect
basic human rights within our borders and overseas.
The time to act is now. I urge the
Pentagon to adopt a "zero-tolerance" policy for human trafficking.
