Not For Sale: Kemp Signs New Sex Trafficking Laws

EDITOR'S NOTE: As Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta approached, Patch devoted exclusive coverage to the issue of human trafficking as it related to one of the world's biggest sporting events. Now that the game is over, Patch remains committed to covering this international plague with our continuing focus on local efforts to combat the crime.

ATLANTA -- Three new bipartisan bills designed to fight sex trafficking in Georgia were signed into law on Thursday by Gov. Brian Kemp. The bills increase penalties for pimping and pandering; includes sex crimes into the definition of criminal gang activity; and authorizes the state officials to care for and supervise children who have been victims of human trafficking.

The bills drew support from both Democrats and Republicans in the state House and Senate, including from state Rep. Teri Anulewicz (D-Smyrna) and Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta).

Over Super Bowl week, 169 people were arrested during an 11-day, FBI-led human trafficking operation. The Violent Crimes Against Children/Human Trafficking Program and Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation Task Force announced it had also rescued 18 victims of human trafficking, including nine juveniles and nine adults. The effort leading up to Super Bowl Sunday included more than 25 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and District Attorney's Offices, along with seven non-government organizations.

• Read SB 158 here.
• Read HB 281 here.
• Read HB 424 here.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, human trafficking is "modern-day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act." Human trafficking is not the same as human smuggling, which involves illegal transportation of a person across a border.

Victims of human trafficking are of all genders, ages, races, countries, socioeconomic statuses, and so on. While human trafficking can happen to anyone, people who are already in vulnerable situations – such as people experiencing homelessness – may be more likely to be targeted.

The different kinds of human trafficking include sex trafficking, forced labor, and domestic servitude. Sex trafficking victims may be forced, threatened, or manipulated by promises of love or affection to engage in sex acts for money. Any person under the age of 18 involved in a commercial sex act is considered a victim of human trafficking.

Not For Sale: Exclusive Coverage From Patch

• Not For Sale: 21 Arrested In DeKalb Child Sex Trafficking Op
• Not For Sale: Massage Parlors Flourish In Georgia
  
• Not For Sale: 33 Arrested In Super Bowl Human Trafficking Sting
• Not For Sale: Trafficking Survivor Brings Message Of Hope To ATL
• Fighting Sex Trafficking As Super Bowl Nears
• Removing The Physical Scars Of Human Trafficking
• Suit Against Cobb Hotel Targets Sex Trafficking
• Buses In Midtown Raise Sex Trafficking Awareness