HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 296 Draft 01 2020-2022 I
i
3
J�tYj0F
�21'ilflt
COUNTY OF
G *l s+ STATE OF HAWAFI
i
+rE�F•NFytP
RESOLUTION NO. 296 22
A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING JANUARY AS "SEX TRAFFICKING AWA NESS
MONTH" IN THE COUNTY OF AWAI`I.
WHEREAS, sex trafficking often affects the most vulnerable, such as those who
experience child abuse, sexual abuse, mental health issues, substance abuse,poverty,
immigration status issues, as well as susceptible children and runaway minors; and
WHEREAS, every year since 2010, the President of the United States has proclaimed
January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month to bring awareness about
human trafficking, also known as modern slavery, and to advocate for the estimated 25 million
people who are being trafficked across the globe, including in the State of Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, on July 5, 2016, Governor David Y. Ige signed into law Act 206 that
explicitly bans sex trafficking in Hawaii, making it a violent crime and a Class A felony; and
WHEREAS, in January 2020, Khara Jabola-Carolus, member of the Hawaii State
Commission on the Status of Women, and Dominique Roe-Sepowitz, from Arizona State
University-Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research, published"Sex Trafficking in
Hawaii, Part III: Sex Trafficking Experiences Across Hawai`i," attached hereto as Exhibit A,
which documented the sex trafficking demographics in Hawaii and found that 64 percent of the
sex trafficking victims identified as Native Hawaiian; and
WHEREAS, on January 9, 2020, Governor David Y. Ige and Lieutenant Governor Josh
B. Green proclaimed January 2020 as "Sex Trafficking Awareness Month"; and
WHEREAS, in May 2020, the Department of the Attorney General established a
statewide human trafficking coordinator position, and through a multidisciplinary approach, is
working to improve Hawai`i's anti-trafficking response by collaborating with law enforcement
partners, increasing the number of prosecutions, developing training programs and prevention
strategies, and partnering with the community in public awareness, outreach, and education
campaigns; and
WHEREAS, on June 24, 2021, Governor David Y. Ige signed into law Act 68, a
comprehensive reform of Hawai`i's criminal sex trafficking laws that moved away from
punishing prostituted people to focusing on sex buyers and classifying sex trafficking as
"Commercial Sexual Exploitation" and "Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Minors"; and
WHEREAS, the Council recognizes the State entities, social providers, and community
advocates who are tirelessly working toward the elimination of sex trafficking in the State of
Hawaii; now,therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the
Council recognizes every January as "Sex Trafficking Awareness Month" and supports the rights
of victims and survivors of sex trafficking and all efforts to end commercial sexual exploitation.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable David Y. Ige, Governor; Honorable Mitchell D. Roth, Mayor; and
Farshad Talebi, State Human Trafficking Coordinator, Department of the Attorney General.
Dated at Hilo , Hawai`i,this 51 h day of January , 20 22 •
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNCIL ME BER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai`i AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawaii CHUNG X
DAVID X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by INABA X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the
County of Hawai`i on January 5, 2022 KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
KIERKIEWICZ X
KIMBALL X
ATTEST: LEE LOY X
RICHARDS X
VILLEGAS X '
1110, IOW9 0 0 0
49.4Reference: C--570/Waived PRPSC
10-L CLERK ` IRPERSON : P'� i •. 0`R RESOLUTION NO. 296 22
2
i
i
i
4
i
4
i
1S
S
S
'' ." x•C- - vfi:- ,mss,... � 's � ,�� �, � ,� �` :�' �=s`,r ��x�" �„� �
fx d--#�''L# •rc. ' ;}, £ ,�,to � �+., k `i F.k.. �{y �s�a.k
� x����m-t.,. _ ar:� n�•, � � �a�-::fir � � eE: � �'�'� x� � �� �-, �'`s~h' -_
k
Y3
- "�'��'�'� �i�`�' .x'"'�'�•,-�5 ski ;.�'�".� _: ''S
5 s x
m
III it lil I it r
� d
-- : Yrn kF' e" "..s. _.. �•,,«.?.. i'`_.? .M?.' e..@e ,.M ...«,...........'Y kf
i
I
i
li
Officef Sex TraffickingIntervention ResearchSEX TRAFFICKING INj
Arizona State University
HAWAVI
PART 111. SEX TRAFFICKING
EXPERIENCES ACROSS HA AI` I
I
January 2020
s
AUTHORS
Dominique Roe-Sepowitz HAWA [ STATS
Arizona State university COMMISSION
OW THEA US. g,WOO N
Khara Jabola-Carolus
Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women
Child&Family
� ,+y�me.wnpxdi;win�Huw�'i amce lsUS '� �`�-M4.��
The authors would like to thank the outstanding staff at
Child and Family Service for their commitment to their
clients and their willingness to support this project
through the administration of the survey. We would
also like to give our thanks to the participants who took - ,9 ss gyyR
the time to share their life experiences and carefully
complete the surveys included in this report.
i
I
1
ABOUT THE RESEARCH PARTNERS
ARIZONA STATEUNIVERSITY, 1 TRAFFICKING INTI TI
RESEARCH (ASU STIR)
Founded in 2013, ASU STIR is a center for human trafficking research innovation. ASU STIR staff
and partners includes social science researchers, survivor-leaders, and graduate and undergraduate
students. The goal of ASU STIR's research is to develop human trafficking specific research and
evaluation activities for data driven decision making regarding victim detection, intervention, and
treatment. ASU STIR supports the development of clinical interventions, awareness programs,
screenings, policy creation, and treatment/program evaluation.
Dr. Roe-Sepowitz, the Director of the ASU STIR Office, has conducted evaluation, intervention, and
incidence research on human trafficking for the past 15 years. Dr. Roe-Sepowitz has presented for
the U.S. State Department as an expert on human trafficking and has been invited to the White
House twice for expert work groups on human trafficking. Dr. Roe-Sepowitz has been selected to
participate in workgroups on human trafficking by the United Nations University, U.S. Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the U.S. Office of Victims of Crime, the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of Justice. Dr. Rae-Sepowitz is
the clinical director of Phoenix Starfish Place, is the coordinator of the Phoenix 1st Step pop-up
Drop-in Center for sex trafficked and prostituted persons. Dr. Roe-Sepowitz has published 3S peer
reviewed journal articles and over a dozen technical reports on human trafficking.
HAWAI'I COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN (HSCSW)
HSCSW is a statewide feminist government agency that works toward equality for women and girls
in the state by acting as a catalyst for positive change through advocacy, education, collaboration
and program development. The goal of research at HSCSW is to counteract existing oppressive
gender systems that are strengthened by the commercial sex industry and to lead a just, humane
transition away from this destructive industry.
Khara Jabola-Carolus is the executive director of Ka Komikina Kulana Olakino o Na Wahine (Hawai`i
State Commission on the Status of Women), a statewide feminist government agency which recently
led Hawaii to become the first and only state to allow any person with a prostitution record to
vacate their conviction — except for sex buyers and pimps. Previously, Khara was the Hawaii public
affairs director at Strategies 360, the largest political strategist firm in the western United States.
Khara also directed the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, where she passed landmark
legislation that extended driven licenses to undocumented immigrants. She earned her Juris Doctor
from the University of Hawaii with a specialization in Native Hawaiian law. She is a mother of two
sons, Laguna Kekipi and Halepueo Kupa`a. Her family is from Laguna, Philippines.
SEX TRAFFICKING IN HAWAII I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 02
i
i
ABOUT THE RESEARCH PARTNERS
i
CHILDISERVICE
I
CFS is a family-centered, full-service community-based organization and has been at work in the
community since 1899. Our mission is "Strengthening families and fostering the healthy development
of children". Through nearly 50 programs statewide, CFS offers services on Oahu, Kaua"i, Maui
County, and Hawaii Island, and welcome everyone from keiki to kopuna (children to seniors) across
the Islands. CFS helps Hawaii families address some of lifet most serious situations including
poverty, abuse, and neglect.
i
i
I
i
SEX TRAFFICKING IN HAWAI'I ' EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 03 E
i
i
J'
f '
AprilThis study found nearly 100 sex
trafficking victims living in Hawail
between .
Human trafficking has been found in all fifty U.S.
states and is an issue that impacts both domestic Experiences (ACEs) including family violence and
and international victims. Human trafficking is neglect, childhood sexual abuse, domestic and dating
defined as a crime that involves forcing, coercing, or violence, having a mental health diagnosis, struggling
enticing a person to provide labor or engage in with drug and alcohol addiction, and being homeless.
exchanging sex for something of value. Victims of The needs of the sex trafficking victims included
human trafficking are often hidden from public view medical support, mental health and drug counseling,
because exploitation occurs in private homes, hotels, housing, and trauma-informed care in all systems. The
vacation rentals, massage parlors, or online. Little is sex trafficking victims described being in contact with
known about sex trafficking victims, traffickers and many of HawaiTs institutions of care- in some cases
sex buyers in Hawai'i. This study is only the third while they were being sex trafficked- including
research report published to date to explore sex schools, hospitals, mental health providers, criminal
trafficking in Hawaii. The lack of a general justice, and child welfare services.
understanding of the scope and complexity of sex
1
trafficking in Hawaii has allowed the victimization of STUDY
Hawaii residents to continue. Services for juvenile
and adult sex trafficking victims continue to be very Working in partnership with Child and Family Service,
limited. In both this study and our previous research a large statewide non-profit social service
in Hawai'i, sex trafficking victims have been organization, this study focuses on the sex trafficking
identified in urban and rural areas, in hospitals and experiences of a large group of individuals receiving
drug rehabilitation centers, youth attending school, social services on five islands in Hawaii. The
and in juvenile and adult correctional settings. participants were given a six-page survey to complete
which included questions about abuse, substance use,
This study found nearly 100 sex trafficking victims family connections and dysfunction, homelessness,
living in Hawaii between April and June 2019. Sixty- health and mental health issues. The survey also
four percent of the sex trafficking victims identified focused on sex and labor exploitation experiences. For
as being all or some Native Hawaiian. out of every three months in 2019, the survey was administered to
five sex trafficking victims identified in this study participants by trained social workers or support staff
had been sex trafficked as a child. Over 20 percent at Child and Family Service, which serves many
of the sex trafficking victims were male. Nearly a populations and in many locations in Hawaii , The
quarter of the sex trafficking victims were sex information shared by the participants through this
trafficked by a family member (parent, guardian, survey illustrates that sex trafficking currently exists
sibling, uncle, grandfather). The sex trafficking in Hawaii in disturbing numbers.
victims reported high rates of Adverse Childhood
SEX TRAFFICKING IN HAWAII I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 04
v
SEX TRAFFICKING EXPERIENCES ACROSS
HAWAYI
PARTICIPANT P FILE
IN = 97 m •
• The victims were identified in a cross-sectional
survey study of 363 participants served by Child and
Family Service.
• Sixty-four percent of the sex trafficking victims
identified as being all or some Native Hawaiian.
• More than a quarter (n = 97, 26.7%) of the clients
surveyed during a three-month period in 2019
e
identified as having experienced sex trafficking as
defined by federal law.
• The sex trafficking victims were identified on Oahu
(45.4%), Maui (23.7%), Hawai`i Island (20.6°1), Kauai
(6.2%), and Molokai (3.131).
• The victims age at first sex trafficking experience . • . •
ranged from 4 to 55 years-old, with an overall • •
average age of first sex trafficking experience being
21.4 years. - ' • . • ' s
• Twenty-three percent of the sex trafficking victims
were first sex trafficked before they turned 18
years old.
• Of those participants first trafficked under the age • • •
of 18, the average age of 1st sex trafficking ` •
victimization was 11.3 years old.
SEX TRAFFICKING IN HAWAI'I I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
f f
f _ ,
f
f f
0 i
0' `0
0' 0 0 0 •® `ii `i
SEX TRAFFICKING IN HAWAI'l EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
SEX TRAFFICKING EXPERIENCES
The most common reason identified by the sex trafficking victims for their being forced or
coerced to exchange sex was for:
DRUGS MONEY PLACE TO STAY
26.8% 24.7% 24.7%
SEX TRAFFICKING IN NAWAI'l EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 06
SEX TRAFFICKING IN HAWAII EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
� )
RELATIONSHIP TO SEX TRAFF }
& family member was identified as the sex trafficker by a quarter (25.8%) of the participants )
followed by friend (24.7%) and boyfriend (24.7%). The most common sex trafficker identified by )
the sex trafficking victims who were under age 18 when they were first sex trafficked was a )
family member.
)
a
. «�
�
RM
NORM
W
FAMILY
FRIEND Y | D }
2y8% 24,7\ 24.7% )
e e )
SEX TRAFFICKING IN H&w»r! EXECUTIVE SUMMARY X07 \
� e
i
SEX TRAFFICKING IN HAWAI'I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING LABOR TRAFFICKING
Of the participants that were first sex More than half (55.7%) of the sex
trafficked as children: trafficking victims also identified as
labor trafficking victims.
1c-= had experienced homelessness.
reported addiction to drugs.
sx
`u j# reported having a mental health
diagnosis.
SEX TRAFFICKING IN HAWAI'l EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 08
WJ
Comparing Trafficked on-Sex Trafficked Participants
When comparing the sex trafficked participants with the non-sex trafficked participants, the sex
trafficked group were:
• IS times more likely to report having • 3.2 times more likely to report
witnessed domestic violence between having experienced teen dating
their parents. violence.
• Three times more likely to report 2.6 times more likely to have
having experienced physical abuse. been in special education classes.
• Three times more likely to report • Four times more likely to report a
having experienced emotional abuse. drug addiction.
• 2.5 times more likely to report having • Five times more likely to report
run away before the age of 18 years using heroin.
old.
• Two times more likely to have
• More likely to report negative law attempted suicide.
enforcement experiences.
• The child sex trafficking victims
• More likely to report a history of were significantly more likely to
involvement in the juvenile justice have child welfare involved with
system. their children than the non-sex
trafficked participants.
• More likely to report gang affiliation.
SEX TRAFFICKING IN HAWAII I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 09 j
i
i
i
Native aiimade up 64
percent cif the sex trafficking �
victims identified in this
In this study we found that sex trafficking study.
victims identified as female, male, transgender,
and non-conforming. Seventy-five percent of Native Hawaiians made up b4 percent of
the sex trafficking victims identified as female. the sex trafficking victims identified in this
The life experiences of the female and male sex study. This is the second body of peer-
trafficking victims were found to be different. reviewed empirical research to show
Male victims were more likely to be in a gang disproportionate representation of Native
and been expelled from school. More than a Hawaiians among sex trafficking victims in
quarter of the male sex trafficking victims Hawaii. The commercial sex industry in
reported being sex trafficked by a girlfriend. Hawaii is dependent on a convenient, low
Female sex trafficking victims were more likely cost supply of nubile human beings for
to report childhood and adolescent sexual and high volumes of sexual activity with I
emotional abuse.
strangers. The overutilization of Native
Hawaiians to meet sex buyer demand may
The majority of sex trafficking victims in this be directly linked to structural economic
study were first trafficked as adults, but coercion and vulnerabilities connected to
twenty-three percent reported that they were land dispossession, exposure to sexual
children when they were first sex trafficked. violence, hypersexualization, incarceration,
While an average age for first sex trafficking cultural dislocation, intergenerational
victimization has not been established in the trauma, mental and emotional distress,
U.S., the age range in this study, from four to 55 racism, poverty, and going inequities.
years old is broad and emphasizes that sex
trafficking victimization can occur at nearly any The reasons identified by the sex
time during the lifespan. This finding trafficking victims for being sex trafficked
demonstrates the need for universal awareness, varied but the top reason was for drugs,
prevention, and screenings for sex trafficking in followed by a place to stay and money.
Hawaii.
1 Office of Hawaiian Affairs,Haumea:Transforming the Health of Native Hawaiian Women and Empowering Wahine Well-Being,2018
SEX TRAFFICKING IN HAWAII I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 10
i
One out of every four
participants reported having
Sex trafficking victims involved in the juvenile experienced sexual aka
justice system were more likely to report being
sex trafficked for drugs. Male victims were more Sex trafficking victims who also reported
likely to report being sex trafficked for drugs having experienced homelessness were
than female victims. Sex trafficking victims who also more likely to report having witnessed
had experienced residential treatment as a child domestic violence in their childhood homes.
were more likely to report being sex trafficked
for money and drugs. Sex trafficking victims The overall rate of sexual abuse reported
who had runaway as a child were likely to report in this study was that one out of every
they were sex trafficked for money, drugs, four participants reported having
protection, and a place to stay. Sex trafficking experienced sexual abuse. While the
victims who reported that they were in special participants from this study come from a
education classes were more likely to report social service agency, the high rate of
that they were sex trafficked for food, clothing, sexual abuse should cause community
and drugs. Sex trafficking victims who reported concern. Among the sex trafficking
being harassed by peers as a youth were more victims, sexual abuse was reported by
likely to report that they had been sex nearly one out of every two (43.3%)
trafficked for money, food, and protection. Sex participants. Childhood sexual abuse has
trafficking victims who reported childhood long been linked as a risk factor to sex
sexual abuse were more likely to report they trafficking (McClanahan, McClelland,
were sex trafficked for protection and a place Abram, It Teplin, 1999; Varma, Gillespie,
to stay. McCracken, Et Greenbaum, 2015).
Homelessness and sex trafficking were found to Sex trafficking victims in this study
be connected, with more than two thirds of the reported experiencing significantly more
sex trafficking victims reporting that they had challenging life experiences than the non-
experienced homelessness in their lifetimes, Sex sex trafficked participants. These
trafficking victims who reported being homeless challenging life experiences included higher
were more likely to report also having been in scores on the Adverse Childhood
foster care or a group home as a child. Experiences survey with the sex
trafficking victims reporting an average
I
SEX TRAFFICKING IN HAWAI'I I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I it
i
/ � f
r r
f x� � j r it ✓� E
r 'r
i
The long-term impact of the
childhood and maltreatment on
the sex trafficking victims in this
score of 4.46 (out of 10 items) compared to an study is of grave concern.
average score of 2.43 of the non-sex trafficked
participants. In the research literature, a score The sex trafficking and dating violence
of four or above has been found to be victims were also more likely to report
associated with the increased odds for binge being addicted to drugs and having
and heavy drinking, risky HIV behaviors, participated in self-harm behaviors.
diabetes, heart attacks and heart disease,
stroke, depression, health-related disabilities, Involvement in juvenile justice and law
and risky behaviors (Cambell, Walker, Et Egede, enforcement was more likely for the
2015). In this study, a score of four or above for victims of sex trafficking including being
the sex trafficking victims resulted in being on juvenile probation and having negative
more likely reporting of negative contact with contact with law enforcement. School
law enforcement, having been in foster care or a issues were prevalent among the sex
group home, having run away from home, and trafficking victims when compared to the
being a victim of bullying. The long-term impact non-sex trafficked participants in this
of the childhood abuse and maltreatment on the study including having academic
sex trafficking victims in this study is of grave difficulties, being expelled, and
concern and providing targeted trauma- experiencing bullying and harassment from
informed treatment including addressing the sex peers. Being in special education services
trafficking victimization is indicated by these was reported by twenty-four percent of
findings, the sex trafficking victims.
Sex trafficking victims were more likely to Drug use has been previously linked to sex
report that they were also victims of dating trafficking experiences in the literature
violence. The victims of sex trafficking and and often has numerous roles in the sex
dating violence were more likely to report having trafficking situations. These include being
a parent in prison, negative contact with law used as a recruitment tool, a way to
enforcement, involvement in the juvenile justice establish dependency on the sex trafficker,
system, experiencing academic difficulties, to ease the vict€m� inhibitions, and to help
running away from home, being bullied by school the victim numb their distress during their
peers, being gang members, and report physical, victimization (Brawn a Roe-Sepowitz,
emotional, and sexual abuse during childhood. 2008; Edwards, Iritani, Ft Hallfors, 2006;
Reid, 2011; Wilson, Butler, Et Gold, 2014).
SEX TRAFFICKING IN HAWAII I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ( 12
r
More than twenty percent ®f
the traffickers of the sex
trafficking victims in this
Among the sex trafficked participants in this study were family e bers.
study, 81.4 percent (n =79) reported that they
had used drugs. Specific drugs were significantly Intrafamilial sex trafficking victims were
more likely to be used by the sex trafficking significantly more likely to report being
victims including marijuana, methamphetamines, first victimized before the age of 18. They
I
heroin, and vaping. Twenty-two of the sex were also more likely to report that
trafficking victims reported that they were someone else in their family had also been
forced to use drugs by their sex traffickers a sex trafficking victim. Sex trafficking
during their sex trafficking experience. victims of family member sex traffickers
were also more likely to report that they
The sex trafficking victims were more likely to were afraid to leave or quit the sex I
report having a mental health diagnosis than the trafficking situation due to fear of violence
non-sex trafficked participants. The sex or threats to harm them or their family.
trafficking victims were more likely to report
experiencing Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar How the sex trafficking victims were sex
Disorder, and ADD/ADHD. The sex trafficking trafficked included being recruited through
victims were also more likely to report websites and social media and one out of
participating in self-harm behaviors including every six sex trafficking victims (n = 17)
cutting, risk taking, having sex with strangers, were sold online through social media,
and not eating for long periods of time. dating websites, and sites like
More than twenty percent of the traffickers of Backpage.com and Craigslist.com.
the sex trafficking victims in this study were
family members. This disputes the traditional
anecdote that most sex traffickers are
strangers that kidnap the victim or are
boyfriends who then trick their victims into
prostitution.
i
I
SEX TRAFFICKING IN HAWAII EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 13
333
I
'ii
SEX TRAFFICKING IN HAWAI"I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
DISCUSSION
The discovery of so many sex trafficking victims in Hawaii is extraordinary. This study identified ninety-
seven victims of sex trafficking and was able to collect data about their life experiences. Using the
information from this study, we aim to provide support and evidence for the development of innovative
programs to revolutionize prevention and healing for Hawai'it sex trafficking victims. Sex trafficking is
not purely an issue of poverty. Hawai'i residents with a history of childhood abuse, disconnections and
violence within their families, pervasive lifetime abuse and Native Hawaiian ancestry are most vulnerable
to sex traffickers. This information should be used to gain awareness of who is sex trafficked in Hawaii,
who they are sex trafficked by, and what systems should be on alert to screen, prevent, and detect sex
trafficking victimization.
All of the sex trafficking victims found in this study participated in acts of prostitution- the exchange of
sex for something of value, but their minor age status or being forced, coerced, or enticed to prostitute
themselves determined their identification as a sex trafficking victim. To clarify, sex trafficking was the
means, prostitution was the end. Acts of prostitution without a trafficker are not reviewed in this study.
i
RECOMMENDATIONS
This information should be used to encourage the development of the following in Hawai'i:
Q Creating a statewide coordinator to develop an infrastructure of detection, intervention
i
and treatment for victims and to address the underlying causes of sex trafficking.
a Sex trafficking awareness trainings that are victim-centered and trauma-informed
• Sex trafficking specific screening protocols for children and adults
• Sex trafficking specific clinical treatment interventions
• Sex trafficking specific programs for adults
• Sex trafficking prevention programs in schools (7-12th grades)
a Social policies that provide funding support and services for adult and child victims of sex
trafficking
i
a
{
as • •- -r .ra r • •a
i
SEX TRAFFICKING IN HAWAII ( EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ( 14