The main focus of EMPOWER PEOPLE lies on awareness raising and sensitization trainings for law enforcement agencies. The organization is also offering direct victim support and assistance to women vulnerable to human trafficking and domestic violence.Those who support an effort to toughen laws on human sex trafficking are making a final push to get the governor to sign a bill sitting on her desk.
”Robyn,” which is not her real name, said she was treated like a slave.
”My life was at risk every night. I didn’t know what was going to happen. I had to see a gun at night when I got back to the place I was staying,” she said, trying to hold back tears.
Robyn, 19, said she was forced into prostitution for three months last year by a 38-year-old man she met online.
”I felt safe at the time and then one day everything changed. He turned on me. I mean, he changed into a monster,” she said.
Robyn said she took in between $500 and $1,000 a night working mostly on Chinatown’s streets, but the money was collected by her pimp.
She said the bill now before the governor would help other women on the street like her by making sex trafficking a felony.
The city prosecutor’s office supports making sex trafficking a felony, but opposes the bill.
”It’s going to overlap with our existing statutes. It makes things more complicated, not easier,” said Dennis Dunn, deputy prosecutor.
Prosecutors said numerous technical aspects of the bill would make it difficult to convict a sex trafficker.
”I think it’s difficult because part of what needs to be done has nothing to do with legislation. It’s a matter of educating both law enforcement and the public to be aware,” said Dunn.
Robyn said human sex trafficking is a bigger problem than most people realize.
”I don’t think people want to know there’s people out there. Young women out there that are still in my position and they need help,” she said.
Robyn said she’s trying to find a job and wants to go back to school, but she’s still fearful her former pimp will find her.
Gov. Linda Lingle has until July 6 to sign the bill into law. Supporters of the measure vow to raise the issue again next legislative session if the governor vetoes the bill. Those who support an effort to toughen laws on human sex trafficking are making a final push to get the governor to sign a bill sitting on her desk.
“Robyn,” which is not her real name, said she was treated like a slave.
“My life was at risk every night. I didn’t know what was going to happen. I had to see a gun at night when I got back to the place I was staying,” she said, trying to hold back tears.
Robyn, 19, said she was forced into prostitution for three months last year by a 38-year-old man she met online.
“I felt safe at the time and then one day everything changed. He turned on me. I mean, he changed into a monster,” she said.
Robyn said she took in between $500 and $1,000 a night working mostly on Chinatown’s streets, but the money was collected by her pimp.
She said the bill now before the governor would help other women on the street like her by making sex trafficking a felony.
The city prosecutor’s office supports making sex trafficking a felony, but opposes the bill.
“It’s going to overlap with our existing statutes. It makes things more complicated, not easier,” said Dennis Dunn, deputy prosecutor.
Prosecutors said numerous technical aspects of the bill would make it difficult to convict a sex trafficker.
“I think it’s difficult because part of what needs to be done has nothing to do with legislation. It’s a matter of educating both law enforcement and the public to be aware,” said Dunn.
Robyn said human sex trafficking is a bigger problem than most people realize.
“I don’t think people want to know there’s people out there. Young women out there that are still in my position and they need help,” she said.
Robyn said she’s trying to find a job and wants to go back to school, but she’s still fearful her former pimp will find her.
Gov. Linda Lingle has until July 6 to sign the bill into law. Supporters of the measure vow to raise the issue again next legislative session if the governor vetoes the bill.
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