6/22 WEBINAR: Reducing Demand for Commercial Sex

HHS Rescue & Restore to Host WebEx Training
“Reducing Demand for Commercial Sex”

Wednesday, June 22, 2011
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

Summary
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is hosting a series of free, online WebEx training sessions on a variety of topics related to human trafficking.  The information session on Wednesday, June 22, will focus on how to reduce demand for commercial sex and address the following:

• San Francisco's First Offender Prostitution Program (FOPP), commonly known as the "John School";
• Benefits of the FOPP for the community and the criminal justice system; and
• Intervention services for prostituted adults.

Presenter

Ms. Kristie Miller, Administrative Manager

Standing Against Global Exploitation (SAGE) Project

The Standing Against Global Exploitation (SAGE) Project is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization with one primary aim: to bring an end to human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) of children and adults. SAGE contributes to this goal by raising awareness about trafficking and CSE issues and by providing treatment services for survivors. 

Ms. Miller has worked for the SAGE Project since 2002, where she had the privilege of being personally mentored by renowned CSE expert and SAGE Project Founder Norma Hotaling. Currently SAGE Project’s Administrative Manager, Ms. Miller coordinates and moderates San Francisco's FOPP.

How to Register: 

To register for the Wednesday, June 22th, 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) training session, please click on the link below (or place it into your Internet browser):

https://mman.webex.com/mman/j.php?ED=148133757&RG=1&UID=1167883417&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D

Multiple participants from an organization are encouraged to register one individual for the session; participants can view the training through one computer and a speaker phone. 

For those of you not familiar with WebEx trainings, all you need is access to a computer, the Internet, and your phone. 

After you register, the WebEx system will send you a confirmation e-mail with login information for both the web and the teleconference portions.  Please save the confirmation email because it includes the following information:

• Toll-free phone number and participant passcode for the audio portion of the training session;
• and Web site link and passcode (same as the phone passcode) so you can view the PowerPoint (ppt) presentation as it is being presented.  The ppt will advance automatically during the training session. 

As part of the WebEx session, you can ask the presenter questions.  Once on the call, the technician will guide you on how to ask questions orally.  The speaker will answer questions during the last 15 minutes of the presentation.

Get caught hiring a prostitute & your name goes on sex offender list in Kansas

Hire a prostitute, buy a spot on the KS sex offender list
Thinking of hiring a lady of the evening in Kansas? Might want to think again.

The Kansas House today endorsed legislation to target human traffickers, but not before amending the bill to put those convicted of hiring a prostitute on the state’s sex offender registry for 10 years.

The amendment’s sponsor, Rep. Mike Slattery, an Mission Democrat, said the idea is to go after the demand for prostitutes, which he noted are often the victims of human trafficking.

“As the father of a young daughter it is the most atrocious thing I can think about,” he said of the practice of forcing young women into the sex trade.

But to the Scarlet Letter for hiring a prostitute wouldn't be permanent.

“Let’s say an 18 year old kid does something stupid,” he said. “Putting them on the sex offender list for their entire life might be overkill.”

Lawmakers in the House liked the idea and added it to the human trafficking bill before passing it. SB 359 now goes back to the Senate, which hasn’t considered Slattery’s idea.

The bill’s other components would redefine the crime of human trafficking to make it easier for police and prosecutors to go after offenders. It would also allow authorities to seize property and money from human traffickers, much in the same way that law enforcement already seizes the profits of drug dealers.

Source: Prime Buzz

Julie Shematz speaking on behalf of the victims of human trafficking and addressing demand at FGCU

Human trafficking is considered a crime with faceless & voiceless victims.

In an effort to put a voice and a face with the countless victims of commercialized sexual exploitation, Beauty From Ashes founder, Julie Shematz, after being asked to speak on behalf of the victims at a human trafficking awareness event, asked women from across the nation that she interacts with, "if you had one thing to say, what would that be?"

BFA's Human Trafficking Voiceless & Faceless Victims Revealed is a compelling and captivating multi-media presentation that finally puts faces and voices to the victims and survivors. You will find out what's on their heart and what they want you to hear from them.

Additionally, the presentation addresses demand and what is fueling the sex-for-sale industry.

Julie will be giving the presentation at Florida Gulf Coast University on March 25th 5:30 - 7pm. Event is sponsored by the Student Abolitionist Movement & the Florida Coalition of Human Trafficking.

Here are some of the comments made the first time Julie shared this unique presentation at the "Out of the Shadows" Human Trafficking Symposium at Florida Gulf Coast University:

"It was powerful to hear from the various survivors from across the nation and to see their faces and families. It made the problem of sex trafficking more real."

"Was a great presentation!"

"Julie Shematz was exceptional, well spoken & brave..."

"Not a person in the room moved and Julie's presentation captivated everyone."

"Everyone needs to see and hear this."