Did you know?
Pennsylvania is home to many U.S. and international victims of sex and labor trafficking. These victims include minors. Slavery in PA includes but is not limited to, street prostitution, closed-network residential brothels, and many disguised labor operations such as nail salons, massage parlors, agricultural businesses, and domestic servitude.
Not only does PA house many slave operations, but it also exists as a "pass-through" state, which is extremely valuable to human traffickers. This is due to the state's many interstate highways that connect to trafficking hot-spots like New York and Ohio. Many truck stops in the state are known to host sex traffickers - especially those along the "Miracle Mile" in Monroeville, PA.
In 2006, the Pennsylvania legislature made human trafficking a 2nd degree felony offense, unless the victim is under 18, in which case it would be a first degree felony. In addition, traffickers must forfeit any profit gained from their crimes. However, since enactment, the state has failed to utilize the law. As a result, two important bills are in the process of being passed to improve the state's response to trafficking offenses.
The first bill is a bipartisan legislation to enforce that certain agencies and organizations MUST post the National Human Trafficking Hotline - which is a response agency with call representatives speaking over 100 languages who will provide immediate response to urgent calls.
The second bill would establish the PA State Human Trafficking Task Force/Advisory Committee. The statewide task force would build off of already existing coalitions in cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and provide local, state, and federal participants.
What YOU can do...
Do you live in Pennsylvania?
Do you want to join in this fight against human trafficking?
Contact your state legislator to urge them to pass this bill and join the fight against human trafficking! Read more about the bill and how to contact your legislators here!
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