Poetry, Men, and the Fight Against Human Trafficking

Please take the time to watch this video and encourage the men in your life to do the same. The young man in the video presents an insightful perspective on the role of men in the fight against human trafficking.

http://www.youtube.com/user/CATWInternational

Conference Opportunity

Find Your Voice...Break the Chain

Women of Vision in South Puget Sound announces that registration is now open for a very important conference on issues of Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery. This is a day-long conference including key notepresentations, breakout sessions, and information booths. The goal of the conference is to learn about these critical issues, both in our local area and internationally, and find out what we can do to make a difference. WV partner church Chapel Hill Presbyterian in Gig Harbor has generously offered their facility and support for the planning and execution of the conference. This conference is open to all adults, college & senior high students, both men and women. Church groups with a focus on countries significantly impacted by these issues will want to attend. College groups motivated to advocate in these areas will want to take part. Groups investing in microfinance will find these discussions very meaningful, as evidence of how important their commitment is to microfinance projects. Please pray and believe with us that HUNDREDS will attend!

Saturday, June 5, 2010
Conference Website / Registration / Agenda / More Information http://www.wovsps.org/
Location: Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church, Gig Harbor, WA
Cost: $40, including boxed lunch

Breakout sessions will be conducted by the following: Kelli Day and Kurt Rahn, World Vision ACT:S: Creative Activism Brad Stave, Vision Fund: Microfinance and Human Trafficking Chapel Hill Cambodia Team: Report from the Field Carmen Gronewald, Peace Rehabilitation: Combatting Human Trafficking with Prayer Linda Smith, Shared Hope International: Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Rani Hong, Troni Foundation: Corporate Social Responsibility Mike Hogan, International Justice Mission: Church Mobilization

From Stephenie:

It's that time of year again- Free Them 5K time! I would love to see you there on May 1 running, walking, or even crawling to help raise funds to put an end to modern day slavery! If you aren't able to be there then I would love to have your support as I spend the day helping to "run the show". Check out my very own fundraising page at
http://www.firstgiving.com/stephenieburke
or see details below for how to register to participate. Thank you all for your ongoing support in my mission to end human trafficking!

If you would like to join Stephenie, visit World Concern's site for more details and see below:

Three weeks until the "Free Them" 5K Fun Run/Walk. If you haven’t already signed up for the “Free Them” 5K, you stll have time! The run/walk May 1 at World Concern’s headquarters in Seattle will help protect children and prevent trafficking.

Hundreds of people will be participating, and it’s easy to set up a personal fundraising page with our new online service.

World Concern President David Eller will speak at the event to update you about how we’re caring for vulnerable women and children right now, and tell you about what’s next as we reach new communities.

The run/walk should be a lot of fun, with music, food and many like-minded people who also want to help women and children have safe futures. There will also be prizes for the top individual fundraiser and top team fundraiser.

Hope to see you there!
— The World Concern Staff

Garage Sale to Benefit Team Travelling to Thailand

Attention Garage Sale Lovers!

A Bellevue Christian High School Thailand Missions Team needs your support! They will be holding two multi-family garage sales during the month of May to help raise funds for their trip to Breanna's House of Joy Orphanage in Thailand. Please go and check it out!

Lattes and delicious baked goodies will also be available for sale.

May 1 from 9am-3pm: Richey home: 1864 77th Ave. NE., Medina
May 8 from 9am-3pm: Mortier home: 8421 126th Pl. SE., Newcastle

Celebrate the Passing of the 6476 Senate Bill!!

Major improvements related to crimes and provisions related to
Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking

Celebrate with us as Senate Bill 6476, introduced by Senators Stevens
and Hargrove, with major provision advancements in the fight against
the slavery of Washington State minors was signed by Governor Gregoire
on April 1st. Thanks to Shared Hope International for helping to
introduce the bill to our State to increase prosecution of
traffickers, significant increase in penalties for pimps & "johns",
and more defined services for trafficking survivors. Much more needs
to be done but this is just the beginning of more to come.

As important, huge thanks goes to all of you who attended the Human
Trafficking Engagement Day back in Olympia back on January 11th
because our presence at the Capitol and the packets delivered by
volunteers made a huge impact. Also, those made phone calls or sent
emails supporting this bill guaranteed unanimous vote for several anti-
trafficking bills. Thank you so much for your activism.

Please read the following so you would see how significant the changes
are related to this bill. The wordings are excerpts provided by Shared
Hope International.

Summary of SB 6476:

1. Provide Access to Specialized Services and Shelter. The bill
requires mandatory diversion for a first prostitution-related
"offense," irrespective of any criminal history. Importantly, the bill
helps fund the specialized staffing and services through a priority
use of the fines collected from buyers and pimps which are to be
deposited into the Prostitution Prevention and Intervention Account.

2. Close the Gap in Crime Victims' Compensation Eligibility. The bill
makes explicit that a person identified as a minor in an offense
regarding the Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor (CSAM) is considered
a victim for the purpose of receiving benefits under the Victim
Compensation Benefits Program, even if the minor is also charged with
prostitution.

3. Increase Penalties for Buyers. "Johns" now face a sentence of 21 -
144 months in jail instead of 1 - 68 months, and fines are increased
from $550 to $5,000 which will be deposited into the Prostitution
Prevention and Intervention Account.

4. Increase Penalties for Traffickers. Traffickers (pimps) now face 93
- 318 months in jail instead of 21 - 144 months; and are subject to a
new fine of $5,000 which will be deposited into the Prostitution
Prevention and Intervention Account.

5. Increase the Risks for Buyers and Traffickers. The bill requires
the impounding of vehicles used to commit commercial sex abuse of a
minor if owned or rented by the defendant and raises the fee to
release the car to $2,500 which will be deposited into the
Prostitution Prevention and Intervention Account.

6. No Age Defense Allowed for Buyer or Trafficker. The bill adds the
crime of buying sex with a minor to the crimes that do not allow a
defense that the defendant did not know the alleged victim's age. The
defendant can assert that a reasonable attempt was made to determine
the true age of the victim by checking a driver's license, marriage
license, birth certificate, or other identification card or paper and
did not rely solely on the minor's stated or apparent age.

7. Mandate Critical Training. Law enforcement is required to develop a
model policy on procedures relating to a victim of domestic minor sex
trafficking by December 1, 2010 and training on the model policy must
be developed by January 1, 2011.

Grateful for your partnership,

Rose Gundersen
On behalf of the SAS Legislative Advocacy Team