This letter was suggested by participant Ginny Senders and written by Pat Murphy. It is going to President, Vice President, and Congress. Further information: End Child Prostitution and Trafficking (ACPAT) - Australia: [url=https://www.ecpat.org/index.html

To: The President, The Vice President, Your Senators, Your Representatives

Dear _________________:

It is high time the United States took strong action to end the world-wide epidemic of forcing girls and young women into virtual slavery for sexual purposes.

Frank Loy, Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs, testified before the Senate February 2, 2000: "It is impossible to overstate the horror of trafficking. It is reported that in some villages in parts of Southeast Asia there are few young women and girls left. Where have they all gone? The answer is that agents for traffickers descend upon villages and harvest these children like a profitable crop to take to market -- sometimes abducting them, and often luring and enticing them with tragically false promises, sometimes simply buying them from desperate parents--to sell into brothels or to force them to perform a wide range of labor and forms of servitude."

Well-intentioned Members of Congress have introduced bills in this effort, but even stronger measures are needed. In the Senate, S. 2414, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, sponsored by Senator Paul Wellstone [D-MN], is the strongest. But it should be strengthened further, as set forth below.

In the House, H.R. 3244, sponsored by Representatives Chris Smith [R-NJ] and Sam Gejdenson [D-CT], offers too little money, as do S. 2414 & S. 2449. It should be strengthened to provide:

1) at least double the funds specified

2) incentives for poor countries from which most trafficking originates

3) visa protection to all victims

We must end this shameful practice now.

Sincerely yours

Your name and optional address

This letter was released on 05/20/2000.
Retire date is06/30/2000.

Topics for this letter:
Human Rights
Peace
Labor
International Politics
Domestic Politics