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Group looks at human trafficking in the NMI
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Posted on Apr 29 2008
A representative of Shared Hope International is now on island to do a study on human trafficking in the CNMI as part of a larger study on child sex trafficking and exploitation in 10 sites across the United States. The study is being funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.
SHI director of programs Samantha Vardaman will meet with agencies that deal with juvenile welfare issues to get a handle on the number of victims by nationalities, ethnicities, or groups and then identify why it is happening to certain groups more than others.
Vardaman said that statistics do not exist right now and part of SHI’s assessment is to come up with numbers.
SHI is doing the assessment in 10 areas: the CNMI; Clearwater, Florida; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; City of Independence; Las Vegas, Nevada; Buffalo, New York; Salt Lake City, Utah; City of Fort Worth, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; and Dallas, Texas.
Vardamn said one of the reasons why the CNMI was selected as one of the 10 locations is because “the CNMI has had extensive experience with human trafficking prosecutions.”
“The CNMI has had a number of successful investigations leading to convictions and prosecutions for sex trafficking,” Vardamn said.
She said that as part of the assessment, statistics on the number of prostitution and consumers in the area are gathered and that the demand factor is often looked at.
In August 2007, a karaoke establishment on Saipan was found operating as a commercial sex house where women were recruited from China on promises of legal jobs.
The case against Phoenix Karaoke prompted enforcement to raise more awareness of human sex trafficking occurring in the CNMI.
Vardamn said the CNMI has an issue that larger cities do not have such as the ease of transportation among the islands.
“The FSM [Federated States of Micronesia] is not far from here and it is happening. Women and girls from the FSM are coming to Guam and Saipan and are being exploited.
“We know this, there are cases that prove this out and that are being pursued. It’s something to keep aware of a whole community,” Vardamn said.
According to research, 12 is the worldwide average age of entry into prostitution.
