Texas lawmakers urged to ramp up laws to fight human trafficking | FOX 7 Austin

Texas lawmakers urged to ramp up laws to fight human trafficking

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. 

Advocates for victims gathered Thursday at the state capitol. They are urging lawmakers to pass major reforms. 

Texas' drive to eliminate human trafficking

The backstory:

The State of Texas launched a comprehensive drive to eliminate human trafficking 20 years ago. 

Since then, many bills have been passed to crack down on the problem. But lawmakers were told this fight is far from over during a rally held on the south steps of the Texas Capitol Thursday.

In 2023, more than 2,300 people from Texas contacted the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Advocates for victims gather at Capitol

What they're saying:

In a prepared statement, Bob Sanborn, president and CEO of Children at Risk, noted the work accomplished in previous Legislative Sessions.

"Our state has made great strides in strengthening zero tolerance for human trafficking, but there is still work to do," stated Sanborn in a news release.

The rally at the Texas Capitol involved members of organizations and agencies  that advocate for victims of human trafficking. Cosponsors of the event included:

  • Allies Against Slavery
  • Crime Stoppers
  • Demand Disruption
  • Dallas CASA
  • Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office
  • Gracious Hearts
  • Houston 20
  • Lone Star Justice Alliance
  • No Trafficking Zone
  • North Texas Coalition Against Trafficking
  • Project Protect Our Children
  • Reflection Ministries
  • Texas Family Leadership Council
  • Texas Society of Medical Assistants
  • Street Grace
  • Traffick 911
  • Unbound Now

The coalition is pushing several legislative priorities for the regular session. Key issues include:

  • Screening and prevention for vulnerable youth
  • Improving protections and support for survivors
  • Training frontline workers to recognize human trafficking
  • Reducing illicit massage businesses
  • Improving laws that protect children and hold traffickers accountable

The group also wants legislation to get local prosecutors to do more to shut down sex-exploitation businesses.

"When we think about ending trafficking, there's so much that needs to be talked about. And one of the big things is collaboration and collaboration with the legislative branch here in Austin and with all the great groups across the state of Texas that are focusing on ending trafficking now. Those that are really focused on making sure that every single victim, survivor of human trafficking is taken care of, that we are beginning to work at ending demand in our state," said Sanborn during the rally.

The number of businesses involved in illicit digital massaging has more than doubled in Texas in the past six years, according to information released by Sanborn. 

The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski

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