NOT HERE Presents: The Governor’s Summit on Human Trafficking
November 12 & 13, 2015
The Countdown: 85 Days Remaining
August 4th began our 100 day countdown leading up to The Governor’s Summit on Human Trafficking in Maine. Over these 100 days, we will be sharing a fact, a resource, or a perspective each day, to raise awareness, encourage discussion, and inspire action against injustice, both domestically, and globally.
Today’s Featured Focus: Safe Harbor Laws
State safe harbor laws address how children exploited for commercial sex are treated under the law. Under federal law, children under eighteen years of age provoked to provide commercial sex are victims of trafficking. So why are separate safe harbor laws needed? Polaris explains:
“State laws criminalize adults that have sex with children under statutory rape laws, however these laws were not applied in cases where the adult purchased sex. The result was children, recognized under both state and federal law as victims of a crime, were arrested and convicted of prostitution. Safe harbor laws are intended to address the inconsistent treatment of children, raise awareness about children that have been commercially sexually exploited, and ensure that these victims were provided with services rather than a criminal conviction.”¹
Do YOU want to KNOW more?
Read the full issue briefing from Polaris here:
¹Source: http://www.polarisproject.org/storage/documents/policy_documents/Issue_Briefs/2014/2014_Safe_Harbor_Issue_Brief_Final_1.pdf
We invite you to like us on facebook, follow us on twitter, and share these resources in your social networks to help us raise awareness that yes, human trafficking DOES happen in Maine AND around the globe, and EVERYONE needs to be involved to stop it.
Looking for more information on The Governor’s Summit on Human Trafficking?
Stay tuned! Registration information for the Summit will be coming VERY soon!