[CivilSoc] Washington State Conference and Bill on Trafficking Issue

[Moderator]

From: Stop Trafficking <stoptrafficking1@hotmail.com>
Subject: Trafficking Bill becomes a Law!
The Governor will be signing House Bill 2381 today, March 12th at 2pm in the
Governor's Conference Room (Legislative/ Capitol Building). Substitute House
Bill No. 2381, sponsored by Rep. Velma Veloria (D-11), creates a task force
to evaluate the state's progress in preventing human trafficking and to
recommend victim support and assistance.
Thanks for contacting your representatives to make this groundbreaking law a
reality!
Also... SAVE THE DATE!
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GLOBALIZATION, JUSTICE, AND THE TRAFFICKING OF
WOMEN AND CHILDREN
October 25-26, 2002
University of Washington-Seattle, WA
Sponsored by University of Washington - Women's Center, East Asia Center,
Human Rights Education and Research Network, International Studies Center,
Russian, East European, and Central Asian Center, and Southeast Asia Center
The United Nations estimates 4 million women, children, and men are victims
of international trafficking annually. "Employment brokers" who assure
legitimate employment to those frantic to escape poverty fraudulently lure
some victims to another country for work. Other victims are sold by a family
member or acquaintance into slavery while members of organized criminal
groups kidnap a number of victims outright. Trafficked persons are forced to
work in brothels, to labor as indentured slaves in private homes, or to toil
in factories.  Human trafficking is a highly profitable, low-risk business
generating $7 billion on an annual basis, third only to drugs and weapons.
Trafficking is a global concern with over 225,000 victims coming from
Southeast Asia, over 150,000 from South Asia, over 100,000 from the former
Soviet Union and 10,000 from the southern region of China on a yearly basis.
It should be noted that the overwhelming majority of trafficked persons are
women and children.  In some nations, social or cultural subordination of
women and children contributes to the trafficking.
We are inviting specialists from all over the world to share their expertise
on the field of trafficking within Southeast Asia, South Asia,Russia, East
Europe, East Asia, and Central Asia.  These experts include activists,
academics, government officials, health care providers, and law enforcement
agents.  They will share their knowledge in the following workshops:
� Forced Migration
� Global Legal Systems and the Criminality of Trafficking
� International Human Rights
� Labor Markets and Working Conditions
� Political Economy and Globalization
� Public Health and Human Services
� Trafficking in East Asia and Southeast Asia
� Trafficking in Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia
� Trafficking in South Asia
This conference will be opened to the community at large, as well as NGOs,
researchers, and elected officials.
Goals of the Conference:
1. A means for in-depth education on the trafficking issue
2. A space to foster interactions between activists and academics and the
exchange of ideas between NGOs from different global regions
 3. The ability for all participants to openly assess current trafficking
programs and strategize for future initiatives
4. Produce a publication to highlight the valuable work of both activists
and scholars on the topic of trafficking
WE ARE SEEKING SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS EVENT
Contact: Gabriela Villareal at mglv@u.washington.edu or 206-685-1090