We made it easy for you to write a note to your senator! Full List of Senators Includes: addresses, Tel, Fax, Emails Senator Wellstone Presentation March 11, 1999 S600 Bill Summary S600 Complete Bill Text

Re: New bill number S600 introduced in the U.S. Senate called "International Trafficking of Women and Children Victim Protection Act of 1999"

Legislation has been introduced in the United States Senate that is aimed at providing temporary asylum for immigrant victims and holding governments accountable for certain trafficking activities within their countries.

Because sex trafficking is now a recognized criminal problem in the U.S., Senator Wellstone (D-Minn.), sponsored the bill which is this country’s first step towards dealing directly with the victims of traffickers as well as providing government level support against the international trade in women and children.

The new bill calls for giving the sex worker three months to decide whether to take legal action against the traffickers involved and the right to request asylum because of the risk of reprisals if they are returned to their countries. The three month period can be extended if necessary.

S600 would also amend the U.S. law on "involuntary servitude" to include abuses suffered by trafficked individuals who are forced to work through non-physical coercion like blackmail, debt bondage, psychological pressures and fraud, commonly used tactics by traffickers against women and children.

A spokesman for Sen. Wellstone said that New York and Chicago have developed into key destinations for women smuggled from Russia and Ukraine.

Please help in the fight against international trafficking of women and children! We call on you to write to your state senators strongly urging that they co-sponsor and support Senator Wellstone’s Bill S600.

This bill is currently in the hands of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Congress re-opens its doors on April 12^th. Use this time during the spring break to write to your senators. Please call your U.S. Senators as well the Foreign Relations Committee Senators to co-sponsor and support this bill! Also telephone and write to your Congressional Representatives to sponsor a companion bill in the House.

Thank you for your commitment in helping the young victims!

Olga Stawnychy
Public Relations Chair of the
World Federation of Ukrainian Women's Organizations
NGO Representative to the United Nations
e-mail: yvsdds@viconet.com