[ilbegone]

2 new task forces to tackle LA human trafficking

Daily Breeze

From wire service reports

01/11/2010

The state's emergency preparedness agency announced today it has put nearly $3 million toward two new task forces dedicated to eliminating human trafficking in Los Angeles and elsewhere.

The announcement follows President Barack Obama's declaration of January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a campaign to raise awareness of slavery and human trafficking.

The California Emergency Management Agency's award of $2.7 million will go toward efforts already in place, as well as the establishment of new task forces targeting human trafficking in California.

"There are few things, if any, more heinous than the scourge of human trafficking," said CEMA Secretary Matthew Bettenhausen. Also launched today was the educational campaign "From Slavery to Freedom," designed by the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking to let victims know that if they come forward, they will not be treated as criminals by law enforcement.

"Human trafficking is a serious problem right here in the United States," said Kay Buck, CAST's executive director. "It is unfathomable that nearly 150 years following the abolition of slavery in the United States, there are at least 17,000 people who are trafficked into the U.S. every year, with Los Angeles serving as one of the top three points of entry."

The agency estimates California is among the top states for human trafficking, which can involve forced labor, domestic servitude and other forms of slavery and exploitation.

"I applaud CAST's leadership against the scourge of modern-day slavery in all of its forms and its work in providing essential services to human trafficking victims," said Luis CdeBaca of the U.S. Department of State. "The `From Slavery to Freedom' campaign is an important effort to achieving our overall goal of ending slavery once and for all."

More than 20 events will take place over a monthlong period ending Feb. 12th, the anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's birthday. A full listing of events can be found at www.castla.org.

CAST, an organization working with and for trafficking victims and survivors in the Los Angeles area, was established in the aftermath of the 1995 El Monte sweatshop case, which involved 72 Thai garment workers held in slavery.