Iowa is not immune to sex and labor human trafficking. Jasper County is at risk. It is time to work together to find solutions, enact protections and ensure justice. Denial and dismissal are unacceptable.
I’m helping with bi-partisan efforts to craft and push legislation to protect vulnerable Iowans of all ages, especially children. We must empower educators, parents, doctors, judges, law enforcement and mental health professionals with the tools to protect Iowa’s children and those forcefully transported through our state for the purposes of sexual exploitation and labor trafficking.
Victims of sex and labor trafficking, many of them teenage girls or young women, are exploited through physical and emotional abuse. Oftentimes, brainwashing techniques are used. Homelessness, hunger, and drug addiction are among factors making teens and others vulnerable.
During a meeting I took part in recently, at the capitol, an expert advocate for victims of human trafficking, Teresa Downing-Matibag, singled-out Newton as a town where teenagers are at risk. Her statement was based upon interviews with teenagers in various parts of central Iowa. She cited a toxic combination of drug concerns as well as interstate access from Chicago and other cities, just hours away, in making our county’s rural towns in need of heightened awareness.
What we heard at the Capitol wasn’t pleasant, but it’s irresponsible to deny or explain-away this comment. While we have heard the easy, knee-jerk reactions; “not here” and “our problem isn’t as bad as the next town,” I urge a pro-active approach to this crisis. We don’t have time for denial and excuses. Kids’ lives are at stake.
Instead, let’s be honest with ourselves. The expert was right. Our teens are at risk. We fit the profile of a vulnerable community. Three main factors include;
-drug concerns
-proximity to major interstates and cities
-child poverty
First, drug addiction is often a major problem for trafficking victims. Sex traffickers often supply drugs to their victims in order to control their actions. Traffickers benefit from having victims become dependent upon drugs.
To those who choose denial of a local drug problem. I say, take a look at your local newspaper. Lately, the front page is littered with mug-shots for drug-related crimes.
Second, let’s be aware of our location. Interstate 80 is a major roadway. Millions of travelers pass through every year. We are just hours of drive time from Chicago, Omaha, the Quad-cities and Minneapolis. Des Moines is just minutes away. According to experts, frequent trafficking patterns among the top metropolitan hubs for sex trafficking include some routes through Iowa, including I-80. We must focus not only on keeping local kids and teens safe, but be vigilant in ensuring the safety of victims of all ages who are forcefully transported along I-80 for the purposes of sex and labor slavery. It is our moral obligation.
Third, many victims of human trafficking seek an escape from poverty. An ugly truth we must face in Jasper County is the number of children who live in poverty. According to “Iowa Kids Count, an Initiative of the Child and Family Policy Center,” 8,155 Jasper County citizens are under 18 with 2,434 under the age of 6. In 2014, 1,155 of these children lived in poverty. In Jasper County, we have a childhood poverty rate of 14.1 percent. This represents a 91 percent increase since 2000. Painful to hear? Yes! Should we deny it to feel better? Absolutely not! We must acknowledge our challenges to have any hope of finding solutions.
How can you help? Public awareness plays a key role, given the hidden nature of sex trafficking. Educating yourself about the signs of trafficking can help to identify victims and may assist in the investigation of cases. There are numerous organizations focused on public awareness.
Let’s not play the “blame game.” It’s a waste of time. Let’s find solutions, protect the victims, and fight for justice. Denial of human trafficking and drug issues is a mistake. It’s time for our best effort to solve these problems in Iowa, Jasper County and Newton.
Feel free to contact me anytime at 641-521-9260 or dan.kelley@legis.iowa.gov.