Tag Archives: human trafficking

Padden introduces bill to require training on human trafficking

Spokane Valley senator reminds public that January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness month

This week Sen. Mike Padden introduced a bill to help end the sexual exploitation of children and vulnerable adults that occurs at hotels and motels in cities across Washington. The Spokane Valley Republican’s announcement of the bill coincided with his reminder to all Washingtonians that January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

Senate Bill 6356 would require hotels to provide annual training to their employees on identifying human-trafficking situations, and to post signage regarding human-trafficking awareness. Padden received input from the lodging and hospitality industries in drafting the legislation and said many are welcoming guidance in addressing trafficking at their properties.

“We know that hotels and motels are often the scene of the crime for sex trafficking, knowingly or not, due to ease of access, anonymity and ability to pay in cash,” said Padden, who serves as the Republican leader on the Senate Law and Justice Committee. “When criminals use hotels as a venue for sex trafficking or forced labor, we have an obligation to not turn a blind eye.

“My bill will help those responsible companies take a proactive approach to fighting human trafficking by training their staff and providing them with the tools to recognize sex or labor trafficking that may be occurring and respond in a safe and appropriate way.”

Padden pointed out that key players in the industry have been significant partners in trying to address the human-trafficking crisis. In 2017, the third largest hotel chain in the world rolled out a required human-trafficking awareness training program for the 700,000 employees among its 7,000-plus locations. It also launched a program with the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery to prepare trafficking survivors for careers in the hospitality industry.

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It was designated as such by former President Obama in 2010, and later redeclared by President Trump in December 2017.

“It is a time for us all to remember those experiencing enslavement and recommit ourselves to ending the labor and sexual exploitation of millions of people around the world and here at home,” Padden said.

“This is an important issue for me and many of my colleagues. Senate Republicans are committed to doing everything we can to raise awareness, protect victims and go after exploiters.”

SB 6356 has been referred to the Senate Law and Justice Committee. It also has a companion bill, HB 2320, which has been introduced by Rep. Mari Leavitt, D-University Place, and is scheduled for a Jan. 22 vote by the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Business.

Individuals can learn the signs of human trafficking and help protect the vulnerable children and adults in their neighborhood by visiting: https://sharedhope.org/the-problem/what-is-sex-trafficking/.

Padden works with national experts to end sex-trafficking exploitation of minors

Today Sen. Mike Padden attended the international Juvenile Sex Trafficking Conference in San Diego, where he joined others in congratulating San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan on being awarded a Pathbreaker Award.

“District Attorney Stephan has been a national leader in the fight to end sexual exploitation of children,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley. “It was tremendously helpful to confer with her today to ask her advice on strategies which have worked for her that could be enacted into law in Washington state. We must employ all tools possible to prevent the sexual exploitation of our children.”

The Pathbreaker Award was presented to Stephan for her national anti-trafficking work. She pioneered and served as Chief of the Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Division Special Victims Unit in San Diego County.

Padden, who serves as the Republican leader on the Senate’s Law and Justice Committee, has also been a leader in the fight against juvenile sex trafficking. He is attending the conference in San Diego to gather ideas for new legislation that can be introduced when lawmakers return to Olympia in January.

The JuST Conference is the preeminent gathering of sex-trafficking survivors, social service providers, law enforcement and policy makers dedicated to fighting sex trafficking and bringing healing to victims. It is organized by Shared Hope International, an anti-trafficking organization founded by former Congresswoman Linda Smith and headquartered in Vancouver, Washington.

Padden continues work to end human trafficking

Saying that there is still work to be done, today Sen. Mike Padden oversaw the Senate Law and Justice Committee’s review of several bills aimed at addressing human trafficking.

“The Washington State Legislature has an excellent history of dealing with the issue of human trafficking,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley and chairman of the committee. “Shared Hope International and Polaris – both national organizations – have ranked Washington as one of the top one or two states in the nation as far as our laws against trafficking are concerned. But as long as trafficking exists, as long as young girls are being sold into sexual slavery, we still have work to do.”

The committee heard public testimony on several bills, including:

  • Senate Bill 5880, sponsored by Padden, which would enact the Washington human trafficking reporting act;
  • Senate Bill 5041, concerning seizure and forfeiture of property for patronizing a prostitute;
  • Senate Bill 5883, requiring that human trafficking information be posted in public restrooms; and
  • Senate Bill 5884, which would designate the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy as the single point of contact in state government regarding human trafficking.

“The areas we were looking at today dealt with training and education so that people in different industries would be able to spot victims of human trafficking and know where to report that information,” said Padden.

“It’s such a serious issue; it impacts people throughout this state. In addition to the sex trafficking, there’s also human trafficking of farm laborers and others who are forced to work. It affects all Washingtonians, but especially some of our immigrants, who might not know the language and are particularly vulnerable to these predators.”

Padden called the package of bills part of a sustained bipartisan effort on the part of lawmakers to protect victims of trafficking, prosecute those who take advantage of victims, and raise awareness of the seriousness of these crimes.

“I am proud that this has been a bipartisan, bicameral effort,” said Padden. “I’m teaming up with Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle), and together we hope to make some further progress on this issue this year.”

 

Human-trafficking discussion Monday to focus on identifying, rescuing victims

padden_pqThe Legislature’s ongoing fight against human trafficking will move back to a familiar venue Monday afternoon: the Senate Law and Justice Committee, where a work session will focus on the challenge of identifying those who have been pressed into sexual slavery, and how they may be rescued.

“Most people probably don’t connect the Super Bowl or high-end health spas with the modern-day slavery that goes with human trafficking. As our committee will hear Monday, there is a link,” said Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, who chairs the panel.

“It’s by understanding how the sex-trafficking industry operates, especially in places the average person wouldn’t suspect, that we can best figure out how to go after those who treat young women as a commodity – the pimps who do the selling and the johns who do the buying.” Continue reading →

Padden updates Latino community about battle against sex traffickers

padden_pqSen. Mike Padden today assured members of the state’s Latino Civic Alliance that he and other lawmakers remain committed to the fight against sex traffickers.

“After your visit in 2013 the Legislature made our state’s already-substantial laws even stronger, so law-enforcement officers would have even more tools to use against those who would victimize your children,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley. “But the traffickers come up with new approaches, and state law must evolve too.” Continue reading →

Senator Padden on the passage of his comprehensive anti-trafficking bill

Audio FileWashington State’s 4th District Senator, Mike Padden, Chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, talks about his bill to make state anti-trafficking laws include expanding the definition of “communication with a minor for immoral purposes” to cover the purchase or sale of commercial sex acts and sex trafficking; add to the definition of first- and second-degree trafficking; and make the penalties for those who patronize child prostitutes stronger.

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