Civil Society was featured in this month’s publication of Minnesota Women’s Press!
We are mentioned in the “ThinkAboutIt” section of this month’s issue and we are very proud to be recognized in a publication that works so hard for the women of Minnesota. Women’s Press featured facts about human trafficking and the dangers faced here in Minnesota.
Thank you to Minnesota Women’s Press for helping spread awareness! Check out their website and our feature in the August 2012 issue.
“Holly is a survivor of child trafficking and an advocate against all forms of human trafficking. In order to raise awareness of human trafficking within the United States, Holly has appeared on the Dr. Oz show and has been featured in Cosmopolitan magazine. Holly is requested on a regular basis to provide testimony and input to law enforcement officials, social service providers, human trafficking task forces, legislators, educators, and journalists. ” (source:http://communities.washingtontimes.com/staff/holly-smith/)
Recently Holly addressed what teenagers and children can do to prevent human trafficking and what we can learn from the media to stop the exploitation of young people.
A message to teens: 10 tips for protection against traffickers
The Importance of Media Literacy in Preventing Child Sex Trafficking
Ramsey County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution that demands that the owner of Backpage.com, Village Voice Media, stop operation of the Adult Services section as it can be used as a platform for sex trafficking. (In the recent story of an Elko man being arrested, the offender used Backpage.com)
FAIR girls, a socialservice organization dedicated to preventing the exploitation of girls, recently released a thirty second ad about how Backpage.com is being used to exploit underage girls. They also have a petition calling for Village Voice Media to close the Adult Services section of Backpage.com that is available for readers to sign. If you would like to view the ad/sign the petition, click here.
We want to thank our guests for helping us to have a great event June 28th!
With your help we were able to collect enough donations to reach our $3000 match! We had 70 guests in attendance and everyone learned so much about the dangers of human trafficking. 
Thanks so much to all of the guests, speakers and a special thank you to our hosts, Carla Tourin, Brenda Braget, and Paul Braget!
On June 29, the Ending Trafficking in Government Contracting Act of 2012 was passed by the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee by voice vote. Minnesota Senator, Al Franken, is included in the group who introduced the legislation. Previously, when contractors submit proposals for government work overseas, they did not include provisions for trading in humans or indentured servitude. The new legislation clarifies existing protections in federal law with regard to human trafficking abuses and enhances prevention, accountability, and enforcement with regard to these abuses. The House of Representatives has already passed a companion legislation.
If you would like to read more about the End Trafficking in Government Contracting Act, click here.
Linda Miller spoke to Esme Murphy from WCCO News Radio 830 about human trafficking in Minnesota on Saturday, June 23. If you missed the live interview, listen to a recording here.
