Oppose changes in Trafficking law -- URGENTLY call write Senators

Dear Friends,

Sex Workers Outreach Project-USA and the US PROStitutes Collective are asking for
your help in opposing provisions in House Bill HR 3887 passed in the US House of
Representatives on December 4, 2007 and now before the US Senate.

HR 3887 is part of a campaign to use justifiable concern about trafficking to
promote a moralistic and dangerous crusade against prostitution – a crusade we are
determined to stop.

HR 3887, the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act
of 2007 would allow the Department of Justice to prosecute traffickers without
having to prove “fraud, force or coercion”, or that the victim is a minor. Section
221 (f)(1) would add an amendment to the discredited 1910 Mann Act so that anyone
can be charged with “sex trafficking” and imprisoned for up to 10 years for
“persuading, inducing or enticing” an individual to engage in prostitution or
attempting to do so.

HR 3887 is being presented as a necessity to ensure that victims get protection.
Congresswoman Carolyn B Maloney (D-Manhattan, Queens), co-chair of the Congressional
Human Trafficking Caucus and co-author of H.R. 3887 claimed recently that: <i>“By eliminating the need to prove force, fraud,
or coercion except to obtain enhanced penalties, prosecutors will have a more
effective way to crack down on traffickers.“

Nothing could be further from the truth. Sex workers and our friends and families
will become easy targets and criminalized under this law just for being supportive
of each other or crossing state borders, while real traffickers continue to go free.


We know from speaking to politicians that they are being lobbied to back this
legislation and that some are not aware of the issues. Urgent action is needed.
Please send your own letter, or the enclosed form letter, to your Senator and
encourage them to vote against the proposed changes in HR 3887.

The Bill is currently in the Senate Committee on Judiciary so the members of this
Committee (see list below) are key to lobby. But all Senators will vote in the end
so even if you Senator is not listed, please write them now. If you don’t know who
your Senator is or how to contact them please click here and follow the directions:
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Further criminalization can only isolate sex workers from our support networks and
make us more vulnerable to attack. Help us stop it.



Robin Few, SWOP-USA
912 Cole St. #202, SF, CA 94117
1-877-776-2004
info [at] swopusa.org
http://www.swopusa.org

Rachel West, US PROStitutes Collective
PO Box 14512, SF, CA 94114
(415) 626-4114
sf [at] crossroadswomen.net
http://www.prostitutescollective.net





The Senate Judiciary members include: Patrick J. Leahy (Chairman, D-Vermont), Edward
Kennedy (D-Mass), Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Delaware), Herb Kohl (D- Wisconsin), Dianne
Feinstein (D-California), Russell D Feingold (D-Wisconsin), Charles E. Schumer
(D-New York), Richard J. Durbin (D-Illinois), Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Maryland),
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) Arlen Specter (Ranking member R-Pennsylvania),
Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), Jon Kyl (R-Arizona), Jeff
Sessions (R-Alabama), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina, John Cornyn (R-Texas), Sam
Brownback (R-Kansas), Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma). These Senators are key at the moment
because the bill is in committee, but all Senators will vote in the end. So even if
you Senator is not listed, please write them now.

More info:

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h3887/show

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