The Imagine Foundation, a Cleveland-based organization that seeks to raise awareness and present solutions for ending child slavery worldwide and Operation Broken Silence, an organization that works to combat modern day slavery, today released a report entitled, ‘The Cleveland Backpage Report: An Analysis of Human Trafficking and the Online Sex Industry in Northeast Ohio.”  The research examines the connection between commercial sexual exploitation and the online industry and provides recommendations to curb demand and sex trafficking in Ohio.  The report proposed thre

Theresa Flores, sex trafficking survivor and author of "The Slave Across the Street" and "A Sacred Bath: A American Teen's story of Modern Day Slavery,” announced plans to start a new campaign to raise awareness and curb sex trafficking in Tarrant County, TX during  the Superbowl.  The S.O.A.P. – or Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution – campaign aims to distribute thousands of bars of soap with the National Human Trafficking Hotline number and key identifying questions free to local motels.

A grandmother from Columbus, Ohio was sentenced to 1 year in prison for her role in human trafficking ring and fraud. The grandmother was convicted of tricking dozens of Eastern European women into the hotel service in Columbus and not allowing them to escape as she took their passports. She claimed the women were in debt to her.

Through the work of the commission, the six sub-committees have created comprehensive reports which have increased media coverage on the issue of human trafficking in Ohio, increased the public’s understanding, helped to support the changes to Ohio’s human trafficking laws, evaluated the services needed for victims, and provided training and identified others who needed to be trained.

During the lame duck session, the House unanimously approved Senate Bill 235 without amendments. The human trafficking bill that was sponsored by Senator Teresa Fedor and Senator Tim Grendell created a stand-alone, second-degree felony for trafficking a person. If a person is convicted of this crime, they could serve up to 8 years in prison for either sex crimes or “involuntary servitude” crimes. The passage of the new human trafficking law will replace the tack on offense for only sex-related crimes that was never used.

There were 29 people who were indicted in a sex trafficking ring by Somali gangs in Minneapolis. The gangs allegedly forced girls 14 and under into prostitution for cash, drugs, or other items in Ohio, Tennessee, Minnesota, and other unnamed places. The sex trafficking ring has been recruiting young girls since January 2000. The Somali gangs had the girls engage in sex acts for liquor, marijuana, or money.

The Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, local police, and the FBI made 80 arrests in the Cleveland area targeting prostitution in an effort to identify and recover children who were sold into human trafficking. During the operation, 36 adult prostitutes were identified or arrested, 44 ‘Johns’ were arrested, 2 pimps were arrested, 32 cars, 2 guns, and $6,000 in cash were seized.

The 7th Annual International Human Trafficking, Prostitution, and Sex Work Conference took place October 7th and 8th at the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio. With over 400 attendees from Canada, Papua New Guinea, and across the United States and presenters from Nigeria, India, and around the United States, this year’s conference was a great success.

The 7th Annual International Conference on Human Trafficking, Prostitution and Sex Work is planned for October 7th and 8th at the University of Toledo Student Union. The Conference Committee is currently applying for Continuing Education Credits and finalizing presenters.

You can register at:

http://secondchancetoledo.org/conference/registration

Ohio Trafficking in Persons Study Commission Victim Services and Safe Locations Sub-Committee released a report detailing the lack of response to victims of human trafficking. Findings show a gap in identification of victims, inadequate funding for programs and a lack of training for service providers. Only five agencies in Ohio reported providing services to assist victims of human trafficking.