The Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery thanks all of our blog post subscribers for your support of our goal to end human trafficking in all its forms in Iowa. Please stay safe from Covid-19 infection over the holidays. We wish you a joy filled and blessed holiday season and a happy and healthy new year, 2021.Governor’s Proclamation Declaring January 2021 Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
The NAHT will host the public signing of a proclamation by Governor Kim Reynolds designating January 2021 as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The proclamation declaration will take place on Thursday, January 14th at 11:00 a.m. in the Rotunda of the State Capitol Building in Des Moines.
Due to the risk of Covid-19 infection, all anti-trafficking advocates attending this annual event must wear masks. As of today, the Governor’s office has not changed the location or postponed the January 14th event. This blog post as well as the NAHT Facebook page and website, will continue to keep all anti-trafficking advocates advised of any changes in event scheduling.
Outstanding Anti-Trafficking Service Awards will also be presented by the NAHT and Governor on January 14 immediately following the proclamation signing. These five exceptional Iowa anti-trafficking heroes include:
- Ruth Buckels, Advocate Extraordinaire – Foster/adoptive parent to 8 sex trafficked female survivors. Ruth is also a licensed therapist and has been a counselor to dozens of victims and survivors. For more information, click here.
- Marc Kirkbaum, U.S. Attorney For The Southern District of Iowa – When Marc Kirkbaum became U.S. Attorney, he prioritized human trafficking investigation and prosecution. For more information, click here.
- West Liberty Rotary Club – This service club organized four anti-trafficking education and prevention projects for the public schools and community at large. For more information, click here.
- Iowa City Human Trafficking Law Enforcement Task Force – This task force carried out a sex trafficking investigation that received what is considered the highest federal honor for victim services by law enforcement. For more information, click here.
- Stacy West, Survivor Who Has Now Turned Her Scars Into Stars – According to her nominator, Stacy is the very definition of a trafficking “survivor”. For more information, click here.
Register for January 12 Iowa Freedom Summit and January 28th Race Matters: Confronting the Roots of Human Trafficking Webinar
Here are two free seminars that are being held in celebration of slavery and human trafficking prevention month.
- Iowa’s Freedom Summit: Details and registration click here, Download Flyer click here (PDF)
- Race Matters: Confronting the Roots of Human Trafficking: Details and registration click here, Download Flyer click here (PDF)
Ask Your City Council to Adopt a Local Proclamation for January 2021
Another important request to all Iowa anti-trafficking advocates is to approach your city council or board of supervisors about locally declaring January 2021 as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. A copy of an example proclamation that you could propose to be adopted is found by clicking this link: Sample Proclamation
Many city and county local governments are currently meeting via Zoom, however, you can still attend the meeting virtually and interact with your council or supervisors. What a great way to create public awareness and recognition of this growing problem across the globe, Iowa and within your own home community.
An example proclamation acceptance script for you to respond to your city council is found by clicking this link: Sample Script (PDF). When you speak to the city/county please share the fact that Covid has played into the hands of traffickers. For more information click the Covid-19 increases risks of child sex trafficking.
In past years, proclamations have been in-person events and photos were taken. There may still be this opportunity but be sure to wear your masks.
2020 Annual Progress Report Released by Iowa Office to Combat Human Trafficking
On December 8th, Kevin Winker and Patrick Waymire provided the NAHT Board of Director a verbal report from the Department of Public Safety’s Office to Combat Human Trafficking. They followed up with a written 2020 progress report which you can access here. Report contains data on arrests, convictions, and trends in tips from the National Hotline. There is a new section regarding the 2020 Iowa Legislative’s passage of House File 2259 regarding hotel/motel employee human trafficking training. The bill itself can be found in the Appendix B. Appendix C has a list of Human Trafficking indicates or red flags.
Siouxland Coalition Plans to Launch an End the Demand Campaign in January
The Siouxland Coalition Against Human Trafficking does remarkable work in western Iowa educating concerned citizens about human trafficking. In honor of Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month(January 2021), they are planning to launch an education campaign to address the need to reveal buyers as the fuel for sex trafficking. The Siouxland Coalition is the first Iowa regional anti-trafficking group to start an “end the demand campaign”. They also plan a display in the South Sioux City Public Library as well as relevant educational information, including information on Shared Hope International’s Defenders Pledge and Truckers Against Trafficking’s “man to man” campaign, on their website. This blog post will share more about their campaign in January. Below is a design for two billboards which will be placed in Sioux City.
Information, Articles, and Resources
- Labor Trafficking allegations in Iowa against Western Iowa Tech
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2020/11/30/western-iowa-tech-community-college-human-trafficking-lawsuit/6426044002/ - Human Trafficking Education Study of the Nation’s Medical Schools (PDF)
- Human Trafficking Training Available to Help Hotel Owners and Operators Meet New State Mandate
https://www.hospitalityupgrade.com/_news/NewsArticles/Human-Trafficking-Training-Available-to-Help-Hotel-Owners-and-Operators-Meet-New-State-Mandate.asp/ - ‘True evil in our midst’: Rise in human trafficking reports as more students learn online
https://weartv.com/news/local/true-evil-in-our-midst-rise-in-human-trafficking-reports-as-more-students-learn-online-11-19-2020 - Colorado launches statewide human trafficking awareness campaign
https://arkvalleyvoice.com/colorado-launches-statewide-human-trafficking-awareness-campaign/ - More than 170 arrested in human trafficking case across three states
https://www.magnoliastatelive.com/2020/11/18/more-than-170-arrested-in-human-trafficking-case-across-three-states/ - Anyone can be a victim of human trafficking. We have to open our eyes | Opinion
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/2020/11/22/anyone-can-victim-human-trafficking-opinion/6361982002/ - Windsor resident Ben Hess’s ‘Maggie’ portrays human trafficking in realistic light
https://www.greeleytribune.com/2020/11/15/windsor-resident-ben-hesss-maggie-portrays-human-trafficking-in-realistic-light/ - Journal Article: Mental health recovery for survivors of modern slavery: grounded theory study protocol
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/11/e038583 - Patriots Owner Robert Kraft’s trafficking case dropped
https://www.insider.com/robert-kraft-prostitution-charges-dropped-sex-workers-still-faced-fines-2020-12 - Journal Article: Mental Health Experiences of Sex Trafficking Victims in Western Countries: A Qualitative Study
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/23322705.2020.1825897 - Journal Article: A Prototype Comparison of Human Trafficking Warning Signs: U.S. Midwest Frontline Workers’ Perceptions
https://doi.org/10.1080/23322705.2020.1834772 - The Children of Pornhub
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/04/opinion/sunday/pornhub-rape-trafficking.html