Posted by Katie Feifer on 08/15/11 at 09:42:46 AM
Our good friends at CAASE (Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation) have spearheaded efforts to change the way Chicago and the state of Illinois view and treat the victims of sex trafficking and the perpetrators. Recently, Illinois passed new legislation, the Illinois Justice for Victims of Sex Trafficking Crimes act. The law enables people who were coerced into sex trafficking to clear their records of prostitution convictions. The law is one in a series of steps that aims to right some terrible and skewed wrongs. CAASE, through its End Demand Illinois campaign, and others, are helping the public and lawmakers recognize that prostituted women and girls and victims, deserving of support. They are not the criminals. Instead, those who prostitute and abuse these women and girls, particularly pimps, should be arrested and imprisoned for the crimes of prostituting and trafficking people, often starting as young as 10 or 12.
The efforts in Illinois are being closely watched by those in other states. The campaign and the legislation that stems from Illinois' efforts to shift the paradigm about prostitution and sex trafficking are serving as a model for other states.
The New York Times recently featured CAASE in its coverage of the new Illinois legislation.
We encourage you to learn more about the realities of sex trafficking and prostitution in this country, and join CAASE and CounterQuo in spreading the awareness and education, urging your state and local governments to right the shameful wrongs in the way we deal with domestic sex trafficking and prostitution.