Multiple stories: Six Iowa and Nebraska Trafficked Adolescents Freed in FBI Operation, Without Sex Buyers…, Online Grooming Training, more

Six Iowa and Nebraska Trafficked Adolescents Freed in FBI Operation

Six adolescents in Iowa and Nebraska are safe following a recent human trafficking investigation. Federal, state and local police in Iowa and Nebraska freed the children as part of a nationwide law enforcement campaign dubbed “Operation Cross Country,” according to a statement from the FBI's Omaha Field Office.

In the two states, agencies located six adolescents who were at a “high risk for exploitation,” according to the statement. “Sadly, the sexual exploitation of children is a continuing problem,” FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said in a August 22nd statement. “The work of the FBI Omaha Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force sends the message that we remain vigilant on those who prey on our country's most innocent population.”

Around the country, the investigators located 37 missing children, 84 child victims of sex trafficking, and 141 adult victims of human trafficking, according to the statement. The investigation included work in Iowa and Nebraska from Aug. 11-14 and involved the FBI, the Council Bluffs Police Department, and several state and local agencies from Nebraska.

Human trafficking remains a major issue in Iowa. For more info tap here (PDF).

Without Sex Buyers There Would Be No Sex Trafficking

The NAHT has recently discovered a new resource on “stopping the demand”. The organization is called the NCOSE Research Institute (National Center On Sexual Exploitation). Here is a link to their website: https://endsexualexploitation.org/. Although the NAHT has a “stop the demand” campaign in its strategic plan as well as on its legislative agenda, little has yet been done in Iowa.

However, the Siouxland Coalition Against Human Trafficking has taken a lead role to stop sex buying in western Iowa. The NAHT commends the Coalition efforts. The Siouxland Coalition believes that the only way to significantly decrease trafficking is to target sex buying behavior which drives the demand for more victims. The NAHT agrees.

NCOSE's policy team has helped to pass legislation in 4 states, latest in Utah, with increased accountability for sex buyers and more services for those who are harmed. They have also stopped pro-exploitation groups from passing legislation at the state level that would decriminalize sex buying, pimping, and brothel-keeping. They have identified and halted efforts at the highest level in the federal government to remove sex buyers from the equation of sex trafficking.

For more info tap here (PDF).

Iowa Senator Ernst Authors Anti-Trafficking Bill

Early in August, U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) saw their bill, the End Human Trafficking in Government Contracts Act of 2022, pass the Senate unanimously, which guarantees the U.S. government neither funds nor participates in the human trafficking of third-country workers through US contracts overseas. The bill ends any contract implicated with human trafficking, along with contractors known to be partaking in trafficking, and eliminates U.S. taxpayer funding of these human trafficking crimes.

For more info tap here (PDF).

Online Grooming and Sexting 30-Minute Training

The following link is an online safety program provided by Kim Smith, who is the Shared Hope Ambassador for Iowa. She is an educator on healthy relationships. The presentation is worth watching and we want to thank Kim for allowing us to post this training. Here is the link to the presentation (starts at 1:30)   https://drive.google.com/file/d/16JSwTJpEbwzqC3kDe8zcZWC7wOxvhdFt/view?usp=sharing.

If you wish to invite Kim Smith to speak to your coalition, school, church, or club you can reach her at [email protected].

Over $1,000 Raised by West Liberty Rotary Club

On Saturday, July 30th, the Rotary Club of West Liberty hosted their 4th annual fundraiser for “World Day Against Trafficking In Persons” in RonDeVoo Park downtown West Liberty. Rotary said the weather was gorgeous and the public was generous and giving!

Between 11 am and 2 pm participants enjoyed hamburgers, hotdogs, chips and a beverage with a free will donation. The community learned about the trafficker's grooming process and how to recognize the signs of human trafficking. They also handed out anti-trafficking information and brochures. The educational information was provided by Sara K., a survivor-advocate from Braking Traffik, a division of Family Services of Davenport. 100 hamburgers and 48 hot dogs were served. Over $1,000 in donations were collected, which will go to the Iowa Network Against Trafficking and Slavery to support the awareness and education of Iowans.

Tom Barr (see photo) is the Rotarian that organized the “World Day Against Trafficking In Persons” Rotary project for the fourth year in a row. Thank you, Tom and Rotarians.

Global Compendium on Human Trafficking Laws Now Available

Last month, the international law firm Jones Day and the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery (RAGAS) launched a Global Compendium of Laws on human trafficking. The compendium is the first standardized collection of the relevant laws, on a country-by-country basis, in this critical field. It will be an enormous asset in the fight against trafficking and modern slavery and comes at a particularly important time. There is a state-by-state section of the compendium and if you tap on Iowa you will find 5-pages of Iowa trafficking laws.

To view the new Global Compendium of Laws on human trafficking click this link: https://ragas.online/human-trafficking-laws/

For more info tap here (PDF).

Chains Interrupted Resource Information Update

The resource section of the NAHT website gets 100's of clicks every month. Chains Interrupted President Teresa Davidson (see photo) recently submitted an update to their resource description for the NAHT website. The non-profit agency is a comprehensive anti-trafficking program based in Cedar Rapids. The NAHT asks other anti-trafficking providers to submit updates to their service descriptions.

For a full view of the Chains Interrupted's revised resource directory tap here (PDF).

Iowa DPS Launched Study on Human Trafficking at Iowa State Fair

The Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) conducted a new study to determine if there is a problem with human trafficking at the Iowa State Fair and other large Iowa events. They also wanted to determine if the crimes took place at the fair, or at areas around the fairgrounds.

“We get information about large events being a draw for human trafficking. And that may or may not be the case. So we're actually looking into that right now,” said Ray Fiedler of the Iowa Office to Combat Human Trafficking.

There are some telltale signs of human trafficking Iowa State Police says to look out for. For victims, they may be with someone that doesn't let them speak. “You may have someone that may talk for the victim. The victim may not do much talking. So you may have someone talking for them or the victim might not look you in the eye,” Fiedler said. “Human trafficking suspects often try to lure victims with drugs, food, or shelter. At an event like the state fair, they may try to lure a victim to locations where they can be alone.”

The Iowa DPS Office to Combat Human Trafficking is encouraging tip calls or emails. Their number is 515-725-6630 and their email is [email protected].

To see a tv news clip about this study tap here: https://www.kcci.com/article/iowa-dps-launching-study-on-human-trafficking-at-iowa-state-fair/40873857

October 15th Walk For Freedom Day

The NAHT encourages Iowa anti-trafficking advocates and anti-trafficking coalitions to participate in the annual Walk For Freedom Day on Saturday, October 15th. This is a major annual international anti-trafficking event sponsored by A21, a global anti-trafficking youth organization. There were 4 Iowa Freedom Day Walks in 2019. Since the pandemic that number has fallen. If you plan a walk on October 15th, please take photos and a short write-up and the NAHT will post them here.  Tap here for more information and to register: https://www.a21.org/content/walk-for-freedom-2022/gtaf8w

Volunteers Fight Trafficking at Iowa State Fair

Thanks to Shirlee, NAHT Emeritus Board member, and a group of volunteers who carried out a human trafficking rescue sticker Iowa State Fair posting project in all 150 Kybos.

Label Advantage printed these special rescue stickers just for use at the fair for free.

Fair officials estimated that over 1 million people attended this year's Iowa State Fair. What does that mean? That means over 1 million people saw the stickers the volunteers placed in the kybos at the fair. The stickers contain information about what to look for and who to call if a caller suspects someone is being trafficked and wants to leave the life. There were also two police officers who worked 12-hour shifts for the entire fair for fair visitors to contact if there was a human trafficking emergency.