People concerned about human trafficking in California are trying to bring awareness to the issue. California Against Slavery organized an event at the state Capitol Monday to call for stiffer state laws against the crimes.
Vicki Zito is from El Dorado Hills. She said her teenage daughter became a victim of sex trafficking after she was taken from a local neighborhood.
“What I want people to understand is this is happening right here. It’s happening right now. There’s no time for complacency. We need to wake up, we need to act and we need to do something about the crime of sex trafficking, human sex trafficking, modern day slavery. It needs to stop.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. California Against Slavery is also supporting a bill by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg.
His measure would create new requirements for large retailers and manufacturers doing business in California. The bill calls for them to post information on what they’re doing to ensure their product supply is not made by forced or trafficked workers. The bill is scheduled to be heard Tuesday in the Assembly Judiciary committee.
