Update from the Project Meridian Foundation

As I have written previously, this blog supports the work of the Project Meridian Foundation, which works with law enforcement and other government agencies to combat sexual exploitation of children and young women. This is a very worthwhile organization which deserves our support. One of their most immediate goals is to establish safe houses for victims of sexual exploitation where they can be safe, receive treatment and counseling before transitioning to more long-term treatment facilites.

A link can be found on the right border of this blog.
========================================================================


Richmond, Virginia, Washington D.C.
www.projectmeridianfoundation.org

"Combating Human Trafficking of children and young women"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2009
Contact: Jamison Beuerman
Tel: 202 257 0987
Email: contact.us@projectmeridianfoundation.org

"On Monday, October 19, 2009, the National Association of Attorney Generals (NAAG) Criminal Law Committee requested and conducted a topical conference call on the issue of Human Trafficking. The conference call was co-hosted and mediated by Alicia Limtiaco, Attorney General of the Territory of Guam, and Anne Milgram, Attorney General of New Jersey. Participants included dozens of Attorney Generals of the United States and U.S. territories, as well as representatives of several law enforcement agencies. On behalf of the Department of Justice, Hilary Axam, Acting Director of the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, Criminal Section, Civil Rights Division, emphasized the need to recognize that sex trafficking affects women of all ages, not just those under the age of 18. Erik P. Breitzke, Chief, Human Struggling and Trafficking Unit, Office of Investigations, U.S. Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), emphasized the prevalent role played by illegal aliens and predators in the sex trafficking industry. He spoke of the role of fraudulent visas in enabling these perpetrators to continue their criminal activities.

On behalf of Project Meridian Foundation, Nathan Wilson, President, raised the astonishing fact that there is a complete absence of Safe Houses and facilities for victims in the United States. Additionally, he voiced Project Meridian’s plans to collaborate with state and local law enforcement agencies to bring training and spread awareness in preventing human trafficking. Of particular importance to Nathan and Bill Krieg, though, was emphasizing the common misconceptions about human trafficking which are impeding the efforts to combat it. In particular, Wilson stressed PMF’s opposition to the common usage of “modern day slavery” as a buzzword to refer to human trafficking. PMF presented its argument that the term “slavery” is exclusionary, in that it presents trafficking as a separate entity that affects a minor demographic, rather than a corrupt enterprise which affects American society as a whole. “Corruption” is more appropriate because it encompasses ancillary, but inextricable, issues such as the drug trade, government negligence, terrorism, the proliferation of disease, and national security. Wilson also stressed that Americans stop thinking of human trafficking as a “foreign” issue, such as one exclusively involving illegal immigrants, and start to realize that it is just as prevalent within our borders. By shedding light on these crucial distinctions, PMF hopes to simultaneously heighten the national consciousness towards the gravity of this threat."