THE TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION ACT IS SIGNED INTO LAW
ECPAT-USA commends Congress and President Biden for passing and signing into law the reauthorization of The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). TVPA funds critical programs that support survivors of human trafficking and provides the legal framework for the U.S. to combat, monitor, and prosecute human trafficking.
Faith Robles, founder of Dahlia's Hope and member of ECPAT-USA’s Survivors’ Council explains why the reauthorization of TVPA is so important:
“The Trafficking Victims Protection Act provides critical support to survivors of human trafficking. After I escaped my trafficking situation at 17 years old, I didn’t have anyone to help me. When I went to the police station, they connected me with a nonprofit that provided me with the resources I needed. I was alone in a foreign country and didn’t know English. I didn’t know anything about what I needed. Thanks to them, I was able to get help, gain value in myself, have confidence and better mental health, and most importantly, I was able to get a job to become independent. If TVPA didn’t exist, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
We are grateful to Rep. Smith (NJ-04), Mayor Karen Bass (Former CA-37 Rep.), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) for their leadership in introducing the vital reauthorization bills that have now become law.
Some key provisions in the 2022 reauthorization of TVPA are:
Increased protections for child survivors of human trafficking
Funding for state welfare agencies to identify and assist child victims of human trafficking and increase coordination with the juvenile justice system
Eliminating barriers to services for child victims of human trafficking: children no longer need to have the consent of a parent or guardian to apply for ID and other forms of identification, which makes it easier to apply for benefits and services.
Support for research into the impacts of social media on human trafficking
None of this work could have been done without the input, assistance, and policy expertise of our Survivors’ Council. We thank ECPAT-USA’s Survivors’ Council for their continued work in the fight against human trafficking*.
ECPAT-USA will continue to engage with Congress and the White House in an effort to inform and help develop policy solutions that uplift, strengthen, and support survivors.
*ECPAT-USA will also like to thank our former Director of Policy, Nina Dejonghe, who led our advocacy efforts with TVPA and was a champion in the inclusion of many of these important provisions in the legislation.
