Report: Hundreds forced into labor, sex in Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio – About 1,000 American-born children are forced into the sex trade in Ohio every year and about 800 immigrants are sexually exploited and pushed into sweatshop-type jobs, a new report on human trafficking in the state said Wednesday.
Ohio's weak laws on human trafficking, its growing demand for cheap labor and its proximity to the Canadian border are key contributors to the illegal activity, according to a report by the Trafficking in Persons Study Commission.
"Ohio is not only a destination place for foreign-born trafficking victims, but it's also a recruitment place," said Celia Williamson, an associate professor at the University of Toledo who led the research.
Formed last year by Ohio Attorney General Richard Condray, the commission also found that hundreds more in the state are at risk of being forced into sex trafficking or to work against their will in fields, restaurants, sweatshops or constructions sites.
Nationwide, between 45,000 and 50,000 people are trafficked into the United States, according to a 2001 report by the U.S. State Department. But Williamson noted that the problem is hard to quantify because of the underground nature of human trafficking, and studies often rely on estimates. Even the Ohio study, which analyzed law enforcement and government databases, is limited, she said.
Cordray said the report establishes the scope of the problem in Ohio as authorities discuss ways to combat it.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100211/ap_on_re_us/us_human_trafficking
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Oh wonderful! As if I didn't have enough to worry about!
Quoting Joqui:
Wow.. how is it that we are blinded about these things going on here.. In the US. You always here about this in other countries.. wow .. just wow
...UnbelievableI had to read the article twice,,,
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Eight Year Old Girl Given "Catastrophe Award" By Teacher
Are you on any medication? Do you feel drugs are pushed on Americans?
- tericared
on Feb. 11, 2010 at 2:29 PM