Imua Alliance: Hawaii needs stronger laws to protect sex trafficking victims

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - This state legislative sesson, advocates are proposing several bills to help those who have been forced into prostitution through fraud or coercion.

Nonprofit Imua Alliance says there are as many as 2,500 sex trafficking victims in Hawaii each year -- many between the ages of 12-14 years old.

Executive Director Kris Coffield joined HNN’s Sunrise Weekends to talk about the group’s efforts to provide resources to trafficking survivors and enhance the island’s response to exploitation.

“The consciousness and awareness of sex trafficking in our community in the last decade has gotten better, however we haven’t seen the survivor population go down and we haven’t seen the number of establishments that engage in sex trafficking go down,” Coffield said.

Imua Alliance is calling for the passage of three bills, one of which would update Hawaii state law to match federal law that makes buying sex from a child illegal. Another bill would hold accountable commercial enterprises that turn a blind eye when trafficking occurs on their premises. Lastly, a bill aims to give immunity to trafficking survivors from prosecution for prostitution-related offenses if they report their victimization to law enforcement, medical providers or mental professionals. That would help them access resources to help them deal with trauma rather than go to jail.

Coffield hopes by passing these types of bills affecting those who are trapped in prostitution or other forced labor, victims can get the services they need without fear of judgment or retaliation.

Imua Alliance is a local leader in delivering prevention education and survivor services to victims of sex trafficking. To strengthen the state’s efforts to combat the sex trade, advocates work to update Hawaii’s anti-trafficking laws so they align with federal statutes, especially when it comes to those who solicit sex from children.

Imua Alliance also provides intervention, education and training for youth to identify the signs.

For more information, visit imuaalliance.org.

To report cases, call the Department of Human Services Child Trafficking (Child Welfare Services) Hotline at (808) 832-1999.