Sex Trafficking Law Expands Federal Authority

Wednesday, December 24, 2008
By Fred Lucas, Staff Writer

(CNSNews.com) – A bill to crack down on sex traffickers in the United States and abroad, and also provide more help to victims was signed into law by President George W. Bush on Tuesday.

About 17,500 people are trafficked into the United States each year, according to the State Department Trafficking in Persons Office. Worldwide it is 800,000 trafficked across international borders, half of whom are minors and 80 percent of whom are women. The Department of Justice says it prosecuted 156 trafficking cases, secured 342 convictions and rescued more than 1,400 victims from 2001 to 2007.

Though the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 passed both chambers of Congress with no debate, the president signed the bill over the objections of his own Justice Department.

The legislation brought together a collection of evangelical Christians, social conservatives, feminist groups and human rights organizations.

“It shows a broad coalition all the way from the left to the right and in between when it comes to significant human rights issues,â€