Six Anti-Human Trafficking Petitions Everyone Should Sign

It's an exciting time for anti-human trafficking legislation on both the state and federal levels in the United States. In addition to the DMSTDVS Act, six new bills are currently up for passage, seeking to toughen laws and protect victims in our country and around the world. You can show your support for each of these bills by signing Change.org petitions created by Abolitionist JB. Even if you're not a resident of the state in question, let your voice by heard by lawmakers there, telling them why it's important to support these bills.

1. Support the Child Protection Compact Act (CPCA). Promoted by International Justice Mission, this bill will provide assistance through the U.S. Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons to select "focus countries." Emphasis will be placed on improving public justice systems to fight human trafficking, as well as survivor after-care services.

2. Pass Anti-Trafficking Bill 18-70 in D.C. Up for Congressional approval, the Prohibition Against Human Trafficking Act essentially echoes federal law that makes human trafficking a crime with stiff penalties for traffickers. Victim support is contained in the bill, as well as a call for data collection and publication to better address human trafficking offenses. Possession of child pornography is also outlawed. As blogger pal Amanda Kloer pointed out earlier this week, D.C. is a hotbed of human trafficking and could certainly use a bill like this one.

3. Tell Hawaii to Pass Anti-Human Trafficking Bill 2045. Forty-five states in our great nation have passed legislation against human trafficking, and Hawaii is not one of them. Let Governor Lingle know it's time to sign this bill, which again, reiterates federal law criminalizing human trafficking and ensures greater attention to the issue by state government.

4. Encourage Passage of Anti-Trafficking Bill HB493 in Ohio. Good gravy, Ohio! You haven't signed anti-trafficking legislation yet, either? Are you kidding me? Get on it!

5. Pass Anti-Trafficking Bill SB 1227 in Pennsylvania. This bill's pretty cool: Similar to Oregon's anti-trafficking law passed earlier this year, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) toll-free hotline number will be placed in key establishments around PA, such as transit centers, strip clubs and select hotels. Callers can phone in tips or request victim assistance. That NHTRC number, in case you don't know it yet, is 1-888-373-7888.

6. Tell California to  Pass Anti-Trafficking Bill SB 677. Lawmakers in California, a state that arguably has one of the worst human-trafficking problems in the country, want to get even tougher on offenders with this legislation, which calls for seizure of property involved with human trafficking and civil fines up to $25,000. The Governator vetoed a similar bill earlier this year, so fingers crossed this time around.

Time to get your electronic signatures on. Six petitions, six button clicks, six messages of in support of the fight against human trafficking. It's that simple. And don't forget to spread the word through email, Facebook, and Twitter!

Photo credit: Gabi Agu