U.S. States Boost Anti-Trafficking Laws But Slow to Help Sex, Labor Slaves

September 17, 2014

By Stella Dawson for Reuters on September 17, 2014— “A rising number of U.S. states have strengthened laws to combat human trafficking in the past year but programs to help victims of forced prostitution and labor are lagging behind, according to a report by an anti-slavery group on Wednesday. Thirty-nine of the 50 U.S. states … More U.S. States Boost Anti-Trafficking Laws But Slow to Help Sex, Labor Slaves

“Even One Case Is Too Many”: Vice President Biden Marks the 20th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act

September 12, 2014

Originally published by Tanya Somanader on http://www.whitehouse.gov/ on September 9, 2014— “Twenty years ago this week, President Clinton signed into law the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) — a landmark law that empowered women and children to expose and prosecute domestic violence. The signing of the law marked the end of an arduous road to pass … More “Even One Case Is Too Many”: Vice President Biden Marks the 20th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act

New Report from National Human Rights Commission Focuses on Women Trafficked in South Asia

September 11, 2014

Originally published on The Himalayan Times on Septebmer 6, 2014— “A recently released report of the National Human Rights Commissions titled Trafficking in persons especially on women and children in Nepal, which is based on the data of various governmental and non-governmental organisations, says that majority of women and children are being trafficked for sexual … More New Report from National Human Rights Commission Focuses on Women Trafficked in South Asia

SOMALIA: Sexual Abuse by African Union Soldiers

September 10, 2014

Originally published on Human Rights Watch on September 8, 2014— “Soldiers from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have sexually abused and exploited vulnerable Somali women and girls on their bases in Mogadishu, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Troop-contributing countries, the African Union (AU), and donors to AMISOM should urgently … More SOMALIA: Sexual Abuse by African Union Soldiers

Booming Oil Fields May Be Giving Sex Trafficking A Boost

September 6, 2014

Originally posted by Dan Boyce on NPR.com on February 1, 2014— “A Friday night at J Dub’s Bar & Grill in Williston, N.D., begins and ends with multicolored flashing lights, thumping dance music and crowds of young men with money to spend. “A lot of testosterone being thrown around in this town,” says Nathan Kleyer, … More Booming Oil Fields May Be Giving Sex Trafficking A Boost

‘One in 10 Girls Raped or Sexually Assaulted,’ U.N. Report Says

September 5, 2014

Originally published on Yahoo News Digest on September 5, 2014— “About 120 million girls worldwide—slightly more than one in 10—have been forced to have sex by the age of 20. Further, one-fifth of all homicide victims globally are under 20 years old, resulting in 95,000 deaths in 2012, according to a new United Nations report. … More ‘One in 10 Girls Raped or Sexually Assaulted,’ U.N. Report Says

Human Trafficking Charges Laid in NZ for First Time

September 5, 2014

Originally published for The New Zealand Herald on August 28, 2014— “Two people have been charged with human trafficking after 18 Indian men were trafficked into New Zealand to work in the horticulture industry, Immigration New Zealand says. It is the first time human trafficking charges have been laid in this country. Two men were … More Human Trafficking Charges Laid in NZ for First Time

UN Human Rights Commissioner Attacks Security Council for Failure over Syria

August 28, 2014

By Sam Jones for The Guardian on August 22, 2014— “The outgoing UN human rights commissioner has launched a blistering attack on the UN security council, saying that “international paralysis” and competing national agendas have cost hundreds of thousands of lives and allowed “killers, destroyers and torturers” in Syria to believe they can act with … More UN Human Rights Commissioner Attacks Security Council for Failure over Syria

Human Rights Made Strikingly Visible at Berkeley Show

August 27, 2014

Originally published by Andrew Gilbert on Berkleyside on August 22, 2014— “Human rights organizations often depend on the media’s megaphone, calling malefactors to account by publicizing their misdeeds. So it’s something of a paradox that Berkeley’s most influential and visionary NGO dedicated to the international struggle for human rights, the Human Rights Center at UC Berkeley School … More Human Rights Made Strikingly Visible at Berkeley Show

Niger Detains Agriculture Minister over Suspected Child Trafficking

August 27, 2014

Originally posted on Yahoo News Digest on August 24, 2014— “Niger’s agriculture minister has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in a baby-trafficking network, a spokesman for his political party said on Saturday. The arrest of Abdou Labo, a senior figure in President Mahamadou Issoufou’s ruling coalition, comes after 17 people, including his wife and … More Niger Detains Agriculture Minister over Suspected Child Trafficking