Powell is executive director of FAIR Fund, a District nonprofit that works to combat human trafficking. The organization has recently been advocating for a bill that would designate funds to help victims of domestic sex trafficking. What’s the status of domestic sex-trafficking legislation?
The bill passed the Senate in December. It didn’t pass in the House. It would have been groundbreaking. We’re hoping that the fact that it passed the Senate will help us build momentum. We hope that we can rebuild that strength next year.
Why is legislation on this issue important?
I think it’s very important that legislation in the U.S. focuses on domestic minor sex trafficking. These young people have been so severely exploited. They need counseling. Often they need housing, medical care and legal assistance.
What will it take for such legislation to pass?
I think we need more comprehensive education of the congressional lawmakers. And I think we really need the public to speak up on this issue and contact their legislators. There are children who have been severely traumatized and exploited right at home.
What other initiatives is FAIR Fund working on?
We have been working for the past year on addressing the online sexual exploitation of young people. We have formed a coalition to try to put pressure on Craigslist and other sites to try to monitor and shut down their adult-services sections. [Craigslist] shut down their adult services section internationally, but they’re now shifting those ads to other sections, like therapeutic services.
Where can victims of sex trafficking get help?
If someone has been a victim of sex trafficking, they can call the national hot line at 1-888-373-7888. They can also reach out to FAIR Fund. They can reach out to law enforcement. If they believe they’re in serious danger, they should call 911 immediately.
– Emily Babay
