Iowa

Although it is sometimes called the “Corn State,” Iowa really is a breadbasket for the U.S., with 90 percent of its land devoted to farming. The main products are corn and hogs. Named for the Iowa River, which was named for the Iowa, or Ioway, Indians, Iowa joined the Union in 1846 as the 29th state. The wild rose is the state flower and the capital is Des Moines.

Human trafficking is a serious issue that affects people all around the world, including in Iowa. It is a form of modern slavery in which individuals are exploited for labor, sexual exploitation, or other purposes.

In Iowa, human trafficking can take many forms, including forced labor, domestic servitude, and sexual exploitation. It often affects vulnerable populations, such as immigrants, children, and people who are homeless or in poverty.

If you suspect that someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, there are steps you can take to help. You can report the situation to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or by text at 233733. You can also contact local law enforcement or a trusted organization that provides services to victims of human trafficking. It is important to remember that the safety of the victim should be the top priority and to handle the situation with care and sensitivity.

 

 

Legal loophole allows child labor exploitation in the U.S.
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Legal loophole allows child labor exploitation in the U.S.

In the U.S., it is legal for children as young as 12 to work unlimited hours outside of school with parental approval if they’re working in agriculture. There are currently around 500,000 children who work in agriculture, planting, picking, and packaging crops. Even children protected by the American Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are at…

Exploitative Child Labor Is Hurting Kids’ Ability to Stay in School
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Exploitative Child Labor Is Hurting Kids’ Ability to Stay in School

When Guatemalan immigrant Jose Velasquez was 13, he began spending his summers working alongside his mother in North Carolina’s tobacco fields. “I worked 10 to 12 hours a day, five days a week in the Goldsboro area,” he told Truthout. “I had to get up at 4:30 am. A rusty van would come by, cram…

Conservative campaign rewriting child labor laws | The Gazette
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Conservative campaign rewriting child labor laws | The Gazette

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds passes out pens Thursday after signing a property tax cut bill at the Statehouse in Des Moines. She told reporters she would soon sign a bill that eases restrictions on employing children. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) When Iowa lawmakers last week gave final approval to roll back certain child labor protections, they…

Pieper Lewis Sentencing May 31st
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Pieper Lewis Sentencing May 31st

Pieper Lewis Sentencing Scheduled for May 31st On April 12th, the public defenders for Pieper spoke at a lecture on the Iowa State University campus entitled “Examining the Homicide Case of a Teenage Sex Trafficking Survivor”. Matthew Sheeley, Assistant State Public Defender, is shown in the photo speaking about the tireless effort to seek justice…

U.S. states might be running awful of international child labor laws – The Washington Post
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U.S. states might be running awful of international child labor laws – The Washington Post

The April 23 editorial responding to initiatives by Iowa and at least nine other states to undo child-labor protections, “Kids should mow lawns, not pour concrete,” might have mentioned that such legislation would contravene international human rights law to which the United States is a signatory.   Applied to those under 18, the International Labor…

Human Trafficking Informational Program To Be Offered This Weekend – KCII Radio
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Human Trafficking Informational Program To Be Offered This Weekend – KCII Radio

The Johnson County Human Trafficking Coalition is offering a free program to raise awareness on the dangers that human trafficking poses to our communities. On Sunday, January 29, the event will be held in the Iowa City Public Library from 1-4:30 p.m. Bearing the title “It Happens Here, Too” the program will teach guests how…

Le Mars Police Department hold 'Human Trafficking Presentation' for community – KTIV
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Le Mars Police Department hold 'Human Trafficking Presentation' for community – KTIV

LE MARS, Iowa (KTIV) – One of the largest Illicit Industries, Human Trafficking, brings in nearly 150 billion dollars a year. So, a Siouxland Community came together to talk about what they can do right here in Iowa to raise awareness. Monday Night, the Le Mars Police Department set up a Human Trafficking public awareness…

Inside the Government’s Failing Program to Protect Farmworkers
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Inside the Government’s Failing Program to Protect Farmworkers

Editor’s Note: This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting and was originally published by Investigate Midwest.   In early 2019 in Illinois, a farmworker, his wife and his son lived in a moldy house. Attempting to keep the winter cold at bay, he’d spray-foamed the windows shut. The toilet often malfunctioned. Unlike most farmworker housing,…

Iowa Trafficking Legislative Update – Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery
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Iowa Trafficking Legislative Update – Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery

Iowa Anti-Human Trafficking Legislation Update The NAHT Legislative Advocacy Committee lead by Maggie Tinsman and facilitated by Advocacy Strategies has been working hard to get the 2023 legislature to address priority anti-trafficking legislation. Click here to see the 2023 legislative priorities. Before the first funnel there were eight trafficking bills introduced by various legislators. In…