State Senate adopts Chase resolution to reduce human trafficking

A resolution adopted March 19 by the Washington State Senate calls for increased education along with stronger laws and enforcement to reduce the exploitation of all people, including especially women and children.

“This is a far-reaching, devastating criminal activity that hides in the shadows and destroys people,” said Sen. Maralyn Chase, D-Shoreline and the sponsor of Senate Resolution 8644. “It needs to be a top priority for our state and should receive all the resources we can bring to bear to protect people from exploitation and enslavement.”

While the Legislature enacted 36 anti-trafficking laws from 2002 to 2014 and has been recognized by Shared Hope International and the Polaris Project as being among the top states in the nation for anti-trafficking advocacy and legislation, Chase said a serious challenge remains.

“The Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network has reported cases of young men and boys exploited in the construction industry, and immigrants and others exploited by restaurants, small businesses, agriculture, and the commercial sex industry,” she said. “Worldwide, 67 nations are not in compliance with international minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking. This is a problem of tremendous scope and concern.”

Chase noted that the United Nations International Labor Organization estimates that 20.9 million people worldwide are trafficked, exploited, or enslaved as forced labor, bonded labor, forced child labor, sexual exploitation or servitude, or involuntary servitude.