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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
 
A Conversation about Sex Trafficking in MN
 
Cheryl Thomas                                      Robin Phillips, Executive Director
(w) 612-341-3302, ext. 102                      (w) 612-341-3302, ext. 109
cthomas@advrights.org                          rphillips@advrights.org


 
Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN (August 5, 2009) – The Advocates for Human Rights will participate in a panel presentation on sex trafficking in Minnesota on Friday, August 7th between 9:45 am and 2:00 pm. The event will take place at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth Church at 835 W. College Street, and is co-hosted by the Sexual Violence Prevention Network and the Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault.
 
Sex trafficking is not only an issue receiving international and national attention, but has also received increased attention from advocates, law enforcement, service providers, and members of the criminal justice system in Minnesota. The Advocates helped to draw attention to the issue with the recent report entitled Sex Trafficking Needs Assessment for the State of Minnesota and subsequent legislative advocacy that resulted in amended laws that better protect victims of trafficking and provide stronger tools for law enforcement and prosecutors. Through this work, a strong coalition has formed. The coalition includes the Sexual Violence Prevention Network among other networks, organizations, and individuals around the state.
 
This area of the state is particularly relevant to the issue, as the port of Duluth-Superior was a special focus of the Needs Assessment. The report found that “numerous respondents throughout Minnesota reported hearing about young women being trafficked for prostitution in the Duluth port, with many interviewees specifying that those trafficked were American Indian girls. Typically, girls are brought on to ships for exploitation by the crew.”
 
The port poses difficult challenges for law enforcement and prosecutors, due to the collision of multiple jurisdictions. In fact, those interviewed by The Advocates “expressed their belief that sex trafficking of girls continues and is facilitated by complicated jurisdictional issues.” The report states: “Minnesota State officers and Duluth police lack jurisdiction to respond to any incidents that may happen in Superior….Maritime law also poses barriers to the law enforcement response in the Port. It prohibits local and state law enforcement officers from boarding ships.” Furthermore, “the Duluth ICE office…lacks authority to address crimes that occur in the Port in Superior. The ICE office responsible for Superior is in Milwaukee, which is more than 450 miles away.”
 
The Duluth workshop will provide local service providers, law enforcement, and community members with an opportunity to hear the facts about sex trafficking in Minnesota, the laws to protect victims and prosecute traffickers, and will enable attendees to talk with each other about ways to address this grave human rights violation.
 
The Advocates will be offering another training on sex trafficking in Two Harbors on September 17 and 18 with the Battered Women Legal Advocacy Project (BWLAP). The training is designed for service providers, with whom trafficking victims are likely to have first contact, as well as attorneys. Trainings will also be offered in five other locations around the state throughout the fall. For more information, please go to the registration page on the BWLAP website: www.bwlap.org.
 

For further information on The Advocates’ work or to download a full copy of the Needs Assessment, please visit our website at www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org.