Global Hope Project, a California State University, Stanislaus campus club, is attempting to gain awareness for human trafficking in California. Bins will be placed around campus for students, staff and faculty members to donate toiletries for the homes of victims of human trafficking.
Domestic and international gangs have expanded from a market of trafficking illegal narcotics and weapons to trafficking human beings for the use of forced labor and sexual exploitation. Reports show victims being utilized for extraction of organs, tissues or even surrogacy.
According to the office of the attorney general, human trafficking is becoming the world’s fastest growing criminal enterprise which currently stands as a 32 billion-dollar-a-year global industry. Only second to drug trafficking, human trafficking has regrettably become the second most profitable criminal enterprise in the world.
Julie Bindel of “The Guardian” states that prostitution is the world’s oldest oppression, yet some view it as a profession and inevitable. Gangs have been able to take advantage of individuals who are vulnerable. Previous testimonies have shown some women had to service 30 to 40 “clients” per day for a meager 20 dollar a day income.
According to the California Secretary of State, on Dec. 3, 2012, Proposition 35 passed with 81.4 percent of the voting public’s approval. Proposition 35 increases criminal penalties for human trafficking, including prison sentences up to 15 years to life and fines up to 1.5 million dollars. Fines collected are to be used for victim services and law enforcement. Proposition 35 also requires sex offenders to provide information regarding internet access and identities they use in online activities such as chat rooms and social networking.
As a club, Global Hope Project is taking the next step by allowing everyone in the campus community to assist victims of human trafficking. Bins will be placed in various locations around campus to collect toiletries on the date of …. More information can be found about human trafficking in California at www.oag.ca.gov/human-trafficking.