Columbus, OH— The Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs supported Senator Fedor’s Human Trafficking Advocacy Day today at the Ohio Statehouse. OCHLA was joined by Latino leaders from League of United Latin American Citizens and Latino Ministry for the Diocese of Columbus. State Senator Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) convened dozens of anti-trafficking advocates from around the state to rally for Senate Bill 235, a bipartisan bill that will make human trafficking a stand-alone felony. Passage of S.B. 235 is in jeopardy due to a light, non-voting lame duck session ahead. If the bill is not voted on this year, it will die at the end of December.
“Ohioans cannot allow political wrangling to stop this bill from being heard and voted on during this General Assembly,” said Senator Fedor. “Now is the time for legislators to take action to protect Ohioans from becoming victims of human trafficking.”
Human trafficking is a rapidly growing and under-reported problem affecting both inner cities and affluent suburbs. Minorities and immigrants are particularly vulnerable targets of human traffickers. Immigrant communities create optimal conditions to smuggle and traffic others because traffickers can easily hide victims within larger immigrant communities.[i] A report released by the Trafficking in Persons Study Commission estimated that over 1000 Ohio children are trafficked within our borders each year for the purpose of sex. The same report estimated nearly 800 Latino immigrant males and females are at risk of being trafficked within Ohio borders. They are trafficked for sex, labor and services[ii]
The Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs was created in 1977 under Governor Jim Rhodes with a mandate to advise state government on issues affecting Hispanic Ohioans; connect the diverse Latino communities across the state; and build the capacity of community organizations so they may better serve the Latino population of Ohio .
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Abstract: Ohio Latino Affairs Commission and Ohio Latino Leaders Support Human Trafficking Advocacy Day
Conversation guidelines: La Voz Hispana welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map.(Be the first one on commenting this note)
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