The suffering of human trafficking victims in New Jersey, around the country and the world was the focus today on the 10th anniversary of the enactment of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

    Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), author of the law, held a press conference today at the New Jersey State House with Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, members of the New Jersey Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force and women with personal stories about trafficking. The Lt. Governor presented Smith with a letter from Gov. Chris Christie. 

    “In the past decade, we have seen progress on a number of anti-trafficking fronts,” Smith said. “With a combination of encouragement, persuasion and sustained pressure via sanctions imposed by the United States, countries around the world have created or amended over 210 laws to combat human trafficking and in the past two years alone an estimated 80,000 victims have been identified and assisted worldwide. Today, the TVPA has resulted in Anti-Human Trafficking Task Forces in 40 cities across the U.S. These task forces coordinate local and federal law enforcement to rescue victims, refer them to appropriate rehabilitative services, and prosecute traffickers.  Almost 900 American children have been rescued from sexual exploitation ranging from truck stop to Internet prostitution, as well as pornography.  Over 500 pimps, madams, and others who exploit children through prostitution have been convicted at the state and federal levels.” (click to read Smith’s remarks)

    To view a WZBN Channel 25 story on trafficking in New Jersey, click here. 

    Organizations that are part of the N.J. Task Force and participated today are Polaris Project, the Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CASA) and Covenant House.

    Also addressing reporters was Ingrid Hayward, a mother of a domestic victim of trafficking in New Jersey who saved her daughter who had been trafficked within New Jersey and also to other states. Rani Hong, now of Washington State, told the crowd of how as native of India she was kidnapped at the age seven and sold into the child slave market.  She was later sold into adoption and came to America to start a new life. Years later, she reunited with her mother in India. 

    Other related articles:
Trenton Times 10/29 article on State House Press Conference
Trenton Times 10/24 article on TCNJ Human Trafficking Event
Trentonian 10/29 article and video of event
Trentonian article 10/ 24 article on possible human trafficking in West Windsor 
Asbury Park Press 10/29 article