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Anti-Trafficking Iowa Legislation Final Report

Iowa LegislatureThe NAHT had one legislative priority for 2024 which was to secure an allocation of 5 million dollars in funding for human trafficking victim services. Currently, Iowa does not allocate any state funding to support victims of human trafficking.

Despite all of the advocacy for this funding, as led by Maggie Tinsman, Chair of the Legislative Advocacy Committee, there was no increase in the victim services funding level. However, there was one important addition to the wording of eligibility for existing victim services funding. Human trafficking victims were added to the list. This addition has been on the NAHT wish list for the last several years.

Here are three human trafficking-related bills that did pass the legislature and two of the three have already been signed by the governor.

Minor Photo Harassment SF 2243 Current law states it is unlawful to knowingly purchase or possess a visual depiction of a minor engaging in a prohibited sexual act or the simulation of said act. This bill changes the definition of “visual depiction of a minor” to include any visual depiction that has been created, adapted, or modified to give the appearance that a minor is engaged in a prohibited sexual act. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 10th.

Photo Harassment HF 2240 defines harassment of another person as using “an individual, recognizable by the person’s face, likeness or other distinguished features” whose image is created, adapted, or modified in a visual description of sexual acts. The crime would be classified as an aggravated misdemeanor. The Senate added an amendment to require a person over the age of 18 found guilty to register as a Tier 1 sex offender and removed the requirement that the offended acted knowingly. The bill was passed unanimously by both chambers and was signed by the governor on April 19th.

Attorney General’s Office Human Trafficking bill HF 2460 states that at the time of sentencing, the court must determine when a person convicted of human trafficking shall first become eligible for parole and work release. The bill also expands the appointment of a guardian ad litem for prosecuting witnesses with mental disabilities. The House passed HF 2460 on a vote of 91-3, and the Senate voted unanimously to send it to the Governor’s desk.

For a list of legislation that did not advance through the 2024 legislature but are still alive for 2025, please click here.

88 Million Images and Videos of Child Sex Abuse on the Internet

Written by Teresa Davidson, CEO of Chains Interrupted and NAHT Board Member

Teresa DavidsonThe Senate Judiciary Hearing with five “Big Tech” CEOs (Chief Executive Officers) earlier this year brought much attention to a growing problem that has many gravely concerned about our children (view hearing here). Multiple family members appeared with photos of children significantly harmed (some lost their lives) through online platforms. In one shocking moment, a senator exposed Instagram warning viewers what they were about to see “…may contain images of child sexual abuse” and allowed them to choose to see it anyway.

Despite the defensive arguments of Big Tech CEOs, these companies are not doing NEAR enough to protect children from exploitation on their platforms. In a 2018 study that made my stomach turn, ECPAT (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking) showed 56.2% of CSAM cases online were of prepubescent children. In 2022 over 88 MILLION images and videos of child sexual abuse were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

While this number is staggering, it vastly underestimates the true number. Many cases go unreported, and this report is from only one organization. In 2021, the Internet Watch Foundation reported a 64% increase in URLs containing or advertising CSAM from 2020. Sadly, the United States surpassed the Netherlands and now leads the world in hosting Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Chains Interrupted has seen a significant increase in referrals in our area (Cedar Rapids) for online exploitation over the last four years. While the internet can be a confusing place, adults can no longer afford to take a naïve or passive role in protecting children from exploitation online. There are some critical things we can do to protect ourselves and teach kids. Check out these resources:

Shared Hope

Protect Young Eyes

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)

In good news, survivors are fighting back! A judge recently decided a lawsuit against Mind Geek (parent company of Pornhub) regarding minors exploited on the site can move forward. Also, an updated KOSA (Kids Online Safety Act) was introduced in the Senate in February with 62 co-sponsors, including both senators from Iowa.

REAL MEN Combatting Human Trafficking At It’s Root!

Written by Melody Stone, Coordinator of North and Central Iowa Coalition Against Human Trafficking
C: 808-430-5710, prairiemelody@gmail.com

The North and Central Iowa Coalition Against Human Trafficking is calling statewide for Iowa men, who are concerned citizens, to partner with the national organization, Street Grace to combat sex trafficking at its root.

Street Grace is recruiting AI bot-assisted cyber control teams of men across the U.S. Many men in Iowa are becoming increasingly concerned about how human trafficking is infiltrating the internet and our communities, making them unsafe for children, females, and everyone!

The truth is, there are effective, safe ways that YOU can become involved to intervene in this horrific, fastest-growing criminal enterprise. If men are willing to volunteer a few hours of their time each month, they can make a huge impact on this issue by joining a Street Grace team.

Nick Lembo, executive director of Street Grace will be in Iowa in May to train a few good men in this cutting-edge approach to intercept buyers of sex trafficking at the point of transaction or purchase. Statistically almost 70% of human trafficking is occurring online and we know that buying sex is essentially a men’s problem. There is a seamless connection between pornography and sex trafficking and these activities are ALWAYS destructive to individuals, families and our children who are the trafficker’s prime targets!

Often men who become entrapped in porn or buying sex are not hardened criminals. They are respected community and church members, husbands, fathers, and coaches who have become trapped in addictive cycles of behavior leading to guilt, shame, and often hopelessness. According to the Demand Abolitions Buyer Report, 1/3 of these men wished they could stop but didn’t know how or where to turn to for help. 72% of men who quit said their primary reason was because their former destructive behaviors violated their morals and core beliefs.

Since 2018, more than 10,000 men have been intercepted and helped by Street Grace teams across the U.S. receiving support and resources to overcome these life-controlling problems. Every day, men are walking out of bondage into freedom and are living proof that overcoming these issues is possible, given time, support, and the right resources.

There is no cost, except a few hours of your time, to join a Street Grace team. After your training, each team sets their own schedule and availability. You don’t need to be a technology expert to be an effective team member. If you would like more information or are interested in joining Iowa’s pilot program please contact Melody Stone at

THIS TRAINING IS COMING UP SOON SO PLEASE DON’T DELAY. We are looking for a few committed men to help us launch this program in our state.

20 of the World’s Richest Countries are Fueling HT/MS

Submitted by Dr. George Belitsos, NAHT board member

The world’s 20 richest countries are fueling forced labor and sex trafficking which account for over half the estimated 50 million people living in “modern slavery”, according to a report released recently by the Walk Free Foundation. The Walk Free Foundation is an international human rights group that focuses on human trafficking and modern slavery (HT/MS). Six members of the group of 20 nations have the largest number of people in modern slavery – either in forced labor, sex trafficking, or forced marriage. India tops the list with 11 million followed by China with 5.8 million, Russia with 1.9 million, Indonesia with 1.8 million, Turkey with 1.3 million, and the United States with 1.1 million.

The Walk Free report states, “Most of the countries with the lowest prevalence of modern slavery – Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Ireland, Japan, and Finland – are also members of the G20”. Yet even in these countries, thousands of people continue to be forced into prostitution or labor, despite their high levels of economic development, gender equality, social welfare, political stability, and strong criminal justice systems. To read more, click here.

Globally Each Month 750,000 Displaced People Migrate

Submitted by George Belitsos, NAHT board member

Migrants embarking on a journeyModern slavery/human trafficking (MS/HT) is illegal worldwide.  Yet, current estimates indicate that nearly 50 million people globally are trapped in various forms of slavery. Hidden behind that sobering number are faces and stories of real people who suffer from isolation, exploitation, hunger, war, and abuse. There is a growing reason behind the growth in trafficking, and that is migration. The desperation and vulnerability of migrants often drive the complex relationship between migration and the perpetuation of modern slavery.

In our interconnected world, migration rates are soaring. Every month, approximately 750,000 individuals globally embark on a journey in search of a better life. However, this quest can often take a grim turn. While many migrants are successful in the pursuit of better opportunities, the ubiquity of these journeys can serve as a guise, obscuring the risks of trafficking and slavery. Workers migrating for employment face elevated risks of being trafficked and enslaved. According to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), analyzed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 45% of all identified trafficking victims were trafficked across international borders.

A New Kind of Stranger Danger

Written by Chistina Hernandez, Chains Interrupted

Chistina HernandezRemember “Stranger Danger”? It was a movement of fear that swept through the nation in the 70’s and 80’s. A fear of children being abducted by faceless monsters with personal evil agendas. Of course, parents had every right to be concerned. Terrifying, high-profile cases of missing children captivate the media. It was every parent’s worst nightmare.

So we heeded the warnings and adapted. We learned to watch out for creepy strangers in crowded public spaces. We noticed suspicious unmarked vans driving around schoolyards. We taught children to never talk to strangers or take their candy. We resolved to keep a closer eye on kids playing in the neighborhood. And we felt a little safer.

These days, our children face dangers we couldn’t have begun to imagine back then. As parents, we may have a false sense of security in this new world we live in. We can track their location on cell phones and besides, kids don’t tend to wander the neighborhood as they once did. So it’s easy to assume that our children are safe and sound – as long as we know where they are. And certainly, if our kids are at home with us, nothing bad can happen, right? Wrong.

Perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions about human trafficking is that it necessarily involves relocating a persona against their will, (The word “trafficking” tends to invoke mental images of drug smuggling or truckloads of guns.) Of course, kidnapping is certainly a horrific crime and can absolutely lead to human trafficking. However, if we’re only looking for missing children, we can miss the ones who are being exploited right under our very noses.

Predators have learned that Amber Alerts and search teams make their job more difficult. They have also discovered how easy it can be to deceive and manipulate children online. They know how to build trust with unsuspecting youth and pretend to be their friend, love interest, or potential employer.

Our children may not have gone missing – but their abusers have found a way into our homes through social media, online gaming, dating apps, and chat rooms. They are working around the clock to convenience our children by sending them explicit photos, sneaking out to meet them, or recruiting their friends into their schemes.

Wings of Refuge is the First Iowa Organization to Receive National Seal of Confidence!

The Network Against Human Trafficking is pleased to inform you that the Ames-based residential program, Wings of Refuge, recently became one of the first residential programs for trafficking survivors in the nation to be accredited by the National Trafficking Sheltered Alliance (NTSA).

NTSA’s groundbreaking accreditation model was launched in 2022, and centers on ensuring survivors receive quality care from effective, trauma-informed organizations through a rigorous 9-12 month process. The trafficking survivor service field is relatively new in the United States, and most residential programs and shelters have only been in operation for an average of ten years. With more residential programs opening across the country, one thing is in the minds of survivors, survivor advocates, caring community members, and donors alike: Can I trust this residential survivor care program?

The NTSA saw the value of a seal of confidence in so many other fields – from hospitals to universities- and so they knew that it would be an invaluable addition to programs serving survivors. After their completion of a rigorous 12-month accreditation process, the NTSA was delighted to provide Wings of Refuge with third-party accreditation that validates their commitment to Essential Standards of care and is eager to see the good work that they continue to accomplish in the years ahead. As one of the first NTSA-accredited programs in the country, Wings of Refuge is leading the charge and setting a new standard for the level of care that survivors of trafficking receive.

 TV News Clips & Articles

By on May 1, 2024   /   News