National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
During January, organizations throughout the US are organizing events to raise awareness of human trafficking issues in their community. Awareness is the first step to identifying potential victims and rescuing victims of trafficking in our community.
If you don't know what human trafficking looks like, victims can pass through your doors without a red flag being raised so that the right questions can be asked.
Take time this month to:
1. Learn more about Human Trafficking by reading a book or watching a movie
2. Support local organizations who are serving at-risk youth in Yakima - Rod's House, YMCA, Madison House, Youth Groups, and many others!
3. Talk to others in your sphere of influence about how your organization/business can be a part of the solution in Yakima!
4. Take a professional in the field to lunch to thank them for all they do to keep our youth safe!
5. Make plans to attend a Human Trafficking event in February / March.
6. Arrange a human trafficking awareness training for your staff
7. Post a Human Trafficking poster in your office, church or at a community organization! (contact us for posters)
8. Watch Sunnyside's Promise's video "Their Story" which tells the story of a girl who was trafficked in a local gang and a former gang pimp. Zonta was involved in fundraising to help complete the production of this video.
9. Watch the Defenders "End Demand" video. It has a powerful 1 1/2 minute message challenging men to end demand!
10. Like our Facebook page so you can keep abreast of the news.
Find LOTS more resources on the DMST page on the Zonta website.
Presidential Proclamation
Read President Obama's Proclamation for National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, 2013
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) up for Re-authorization
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), enacted in 1994, recognizes the insidious and pervasive nature of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and supports comprehensive, effective and cost saving responses to these crimes. VAWA programs, administered by the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services, give law enforcement, prosecutors and judges the tools they need to hold offenders accountable.
Please join Zonta ‘s Campaign to say “No” to violence against women by supporting the reauthorizing VAWA in 2013 through the 113th Senate. In 2012 VAWA was proposed to be reauthorized by Senate bill 1925 but died in the U.S. House of Representatives. If you have not had a chance to learn about this bill, please educate yourself on the importance of the provisions proposed by the Senate as they help to ensure protection for those women who are members of extremely vulnerable communities in the United States.
Learn more:
Ten Things we would lose if Congress doesn't come up with a Real VAWA!
YWCA position on the VAWA reauthorization
National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women
Provisions in VAWA for Immigrant Victims of Violence Against Women in the United States
Encourage your congressmen/women to vote for the reauthorization of VAWA and to include it's Provisions related to Immigrant Survivors of Violence Against Women in the United States!
Senator Maria Cantwell - email Senator Cantwell
Senator Patty Murray - email Senator Murray
Representative Doc Hastings - email Representative Hastings
Zonta Human Trafficking Lending Library
Let us know if you'd like to borrow any of the books or movies in our Lending Library :)
If we can help with any specific human trafficking information or networking need - just fill out the contact form on the Zonta Website!
Trafficking Hotlines
If you suspect someone is a victim of human trafficking, call
National Human Trafficking Resource Hotline
1-888-3737-888
or the
Yakima Crime Victims Service Center
1-866-523-6468
Both of these hotlines operate 24/7 hours!
This Newsletter
We plan to send out a monthly newsletter with targeted human trafficking news from our valley. If at any time you are not interested in receiving this newsletter, just unsubscribe from the list in the footer ... Please don't report us as spam! :)
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