May 22, 2000

Anti-sex-trade bill approved by House
___WASHINGTON (BP)--The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation May 9 targeting the worldwide problem of sexual trafficking in women and children, with provisions included for the punishment of those behind the trade of women and children in the United States.
___ The House adopted by voice vote the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, H.R. 3244. Similar bills have been introduced in the Senate, which has yet to act on either version.
___ While the legislation covers all forms of slavery, its primary focus is on the burgeoning trade in women and children for sexual uses.
___ The House-approved measure would provide for punishment, including a fine and/or a prison term of as much as life, for those who bring women and children into this country for the purpose of forced prostitution. It allows for temporary visas for up to 5,000 victims a year in the United States, with permanent visas permitted for those who cooperate fully in the prosecution of sex traders.
___ The bill establishes an office within the State Department to report on countries that fail to combat sex trafficking adequately. Sanctions on non-humanitarian aid to offending countries could be enforced, although the president has the authority under the legislation to waive such sanctions.
___ About 50,000 women and children are brought into this country each year in the sex trade, according to experts on the issue. It is estimated there are as many as 2 million sex-trafficking victims a year worldwide, according to the State Department, with at least 1 million of those children. The sex trade has become a profitable enterprise for organized crime, witnesses have testified at congressional hearings.





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