Governor signs Proclamation for Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Gov Reynolds Signs Proclamation

Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Gregg declared January as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in Iowa. This event was held at the Rotunda of the Iowa State Capitol Building on January 14th and was organized and sponsored by the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery. The photo shows Governor Reynolds and NAHT Board Chair, George Belitsos, holding the proclamation surrounded by Network board members.

Following the proclamation board signing, five Outstanding Anti-Trafficking Service Awards were presented to five Iowans. This award honors individuals and organizations that have made remarkable contributions to ending trafficking in Iowa. Next month’s blog will name and pay tribute to these 5 Iowa heroes. The final speaker was a high school student representing the Set Me Free Project, who spoke about the importance of prevention and education.

To view videos of the Proclamation signing please click the following links:

Following the event, Maggie Tinsman, chair of the NAHT Legislative Advisory Committee hand delivered to all 150 Iowa Legislators the 2021 NAHT legislature priorities. These legislative priorities are rank ordered, and can be accessed here:  NAHT 2021 Priorities (PDF)

First Annual Iowa Freedom Summit a Success

In recognition of Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking co-sponsored along with the Franciscan Peace Center the first ever Iowa Freedom Summit. This was a one and a half hour, very informative update on Iowa’s fight to end human trafficking. Zoom viewers heard from six Network board members pictured below, on six different topics. The last of whom was a survivor who has turned her “scars into stars”. If you would like to view the one and a half hour presentation, click the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/ln3nOjGISDq9iplmY7gedXC8M6zZfx70lQK9ZJlq38bHMUqkZXGYLNdmsmONXQp5.Y0EJrwIou94E9mWT

SummitSpeakers

2021 Strategic Plan Goals

Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month has been the springboard for not only announcing the Network’s legislative priorities for 2021, but also to announce new goals for the next 12 months. The following is a Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery two-year list of goals for 2020-2021.

  1. Explore becoming the first state in the nation to become a Trafficking Free Zone. Encourage and support Iowa cities and counties that wish to become Trafficking Free Zones. (This goal is assigned to the NAHT Research and Best Practices Committee). New goal for 2021.
  2. Collaborate with state agencies and universities to develop a training curriculum for certification of survivor service providers. (Assigned to the NAHT Research and Best Practices Committee). New goal for 2021.
  3. For the full list please click here: NAHT Two-Year Strategic Goals 2020-2021 (PDF)

2nd Labor Trafficking Lawsuit filed against Iowa Community College

Eleven more foreign students from Brazil and Chile have filed a federal lawsuit accusing a northwest Iowa community college, a recruitment company, a pet food manufacturer and a packaging company of human trafficking and involuntary servitude. For more information, click here.

Siouxland Coalition Against Human Trafficking- Kicks Off Campaign to “End the Demand”

The NAHT commends the Siouxland Coalition Against Human Trafficking for launching an educational campaign to “End the Demand” for commercial sex trafficking. The campaign began in December 2020 with awareness billboards in Sioux City. See billboard design below.

End the Demand

The following link on their website gives men several things they can do that will enable them to personally make a difference in “End the Demand” for commercial sex trafficking: www.siouxlandagainsttrafficking.org/projects

The link includes Shared Hope International’s Defender’s Pledge which is one way men can commit not only to not adding to this problem, but to stand against it. In addition to the link where they can register to make a Pledge, there are several informative videos and action ideas at the Shared Hope Action page link.

Truckers against Trafficking ‘s Man-to-Man Campaign provides information on how any man – not just truckers – can address the problem of Demand.. There are personal suggestions for individuals as well as resources for groups, including a video and discussion questions to help facilitate a group, and information on how businesses can address Ending the Demand..

The Siouxland Coalition hopes that men will not only make the personal commitment to help End the Demand for commercial sex, but that they will inform themselves, and start taking the message out to places where they work, to their business, to their church, and start forming groups of men committed to the same goal.

For more information, contact the Siouxland Coalition at scahtinc@gmail.com.

Information, Articles, and Resources

By on February 1, 2021   /   News