Relationship of HUMAN TRAFFICKING and the
CWU CAMPAIGN TO RATIFY
THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

The United States must ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), because The Convention is one of the main instruments for creating a protective environment for all children. Article 34 deals with sexual exploitation and Article 35, with sale and trafficking. How can the US call on other countries to end trafficking and sexual exploitation of children if the US has not ratified the CRC? Join CWU’s campaign and petition drive to ratify the Convention. For campaign information and a petition, contact the CWU Legislative Office.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS on HUMAN TRAFFICKING

  1. Educate yourself and your CWU unit about human trafficking.

  2. Identify the local religious groups and organizations working on human trafficking issues in your community and state. Work together with them.

  3. What is your state doing to end human trafficking? States need anti-trafficking legislation and an anti-trafficking state task force. Eight states currently have an anti-trafficking task force: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, and Washington. Twenty-four states have passed anti-trafficking laws. (For details, see www.polarisproject.org.)

  4. Work with elected officials (local, state, and national) to end human trafficking. If your state is listed above, find out how your state legislature assists victims of trafficking. Find out how you can get involved and help

  5. If your state does not have an anti-trafficking task force, discuss with your state legislators the possibility of creating one.

  6. Contact your local shelters to find out if they assist trafficked victims and how you can be supportive and involved. Provide staff with information to identify and assist a person who is a victim of trafficking. (See the Dept. of Human Services "Rescue and Restore" fact sheets at the back of this resource.

  7. Check with your State Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the status of immigrant victims of trafficking. Ask ICE if they have a speaker for your next meeting or Celebration so you will be better informed. Note: ICE is a branch of the Federal government, so they cannot lobby for changes in laws to help victims of trafficking, but you can. They can offer suggestions.

  8. Work with ECPAT-USA www.ecpatusa.org. (End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes.) Contact them for assistance. They are working to create model state legislation to ensure that American children receive the protection and the assistance they need to escape sexual exploitation. ECPAT is also working to stop sex tourism

  9. Be involved with your denomination in their anti-trafficking initiatives. This issue is high on the agenda of many denominations, including the Presbyterians, the American Baptists and the Episcopalians. Watch for information on a national conference in the fall of 2008.