A representative of an anti-human trafficking organization based in Washingt, DC says a lot of attention is being paid to the issue of human trafficking – especially in light of the growing problem with prostitution in western North Dakota.
It's always been an issue, I think," said Vanessa Chauhan, who is with Polaris. “People are getting more awareness about it, and are recognizing that it is not a foreign issue, as people normally perceive it to be. It's happening here in the United States ikn our communities and our backyards.”
Chauhan says as people are becoming more aware of the issue, they're also aware of the need to do something about it.
"Human trafficking is all about forcing someone against their will to engage in commercial sex or in some kid of labor service," said Chauhan. "It's coercion."
Chauhan says while North Dakota has anti-trafficking laws in place, she’d like to see them strengthened. She says one way is for the state to adopt strong "safe harbor" laws.
"The objective of safe harbor legislation is to take kids out of the juvenile justice and delinquency systems and recognizing them not as criminals, but victims in need of services," said Chauhan. "We're pushing states to enact this kind of legislation."
Chauhan spoke at a children’s justice seminar this week in Bismarck.
