Although hundreds of thousands of minors are trafficked every year, the issue remains largely unknown in Iowa. When young girls are arrested for prostitution, they are viewed as criminals rather than children in need who are not old enough to consent to have sex. The program will work to educate the community and local organizations, such as law enforcement and social services, in order to help them view these girls as victims rather than delinquents. Other areas of training will include strategies on how to identify and respond to victims. The project will raise awareness by working with the media and attending community events that focus on advocacy for children, women, and/or abuse. The Human Trafficking Project will work to pass Senate Bill S. 596, the “Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act,” which seeks to establish a grant program to benefit minors who are victims of sex trafficking.
