As Willow Creek Church in Crystal Lake holds a seminar on sexual slavery on Saturday from from 8:15-2 and the teenage girls kidnapped in Nigeria is gaining increasing attention worldwide, Congressman Randy Hultgren hosted a meeting on the subject in the nation’s Capitol.

(The Willow Creek event costs $30 and runs from 8:15 to 2. Call Dawn Szweda at 224-512-1737 to make reservations).

Hultgren’s press release follows:

Trafficking Expert: We must reduce demand for sex slavery, attack its root causes

Washington, DC — This week, U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) hosted a presentation for Members of Congress and their staffs on the root causes that fuel sex slavery, and what can be done to stop human trafficking.

“The plague of human trafficking affects all of us, and the last thing we can do is ignore it.

“This week, we hear of girls in Africa being sold into slavery, but this problem extends even to our own backyards,” said Rep. Hultgren.

“We cannot turn a blind eye to what’s going on in the shadows, and what is at the root cause of it.

“Learning about what exacerbates the problem of human trafficking is a difficult topic, but we must address the evidence before us.

“If we could save one child, one woman, one life, then our efforts would be worth it.”

Laila Mickelwait of Exodus Cry, an international anti-human trafficking organization, revealed evidence showing the destructive correlation between increased demand for prostitution and pornography, and an increase in the prevalence of sex slavery.

In her presentation she emphasized the need for legislation that attacks these root causes of human trafficking.

“It was an honor to be able to partner with Congressman Hultgren to help raise awareness about the extremely important task of preventing sex trafficking,” said Mickelwait.

“I would like to thank Congressman Hultgren for his continued efforts to combat this injustice both at home and abroad.

“I am also looking forward with anticipation to the important effect his forthcoming legislation will have in the realm of reducing the demand for commercial sex, which in turn will significantly help prevent the horrific injustice of sexual slavery from continuing.”

Rep. Hultgren plans to introduce legislation in the coming weeks targeting government-sanctioned prostitution as a major factor contributing to the prevalence of sex slavery, and has made combating human trafficking a priority in Washington as a member of the Congressional Human Trafficking Caucus:

• This year, he was selected as a member of the Congressional Human Trafficking Task Force, formed by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor to bring Members of Congress together to produce legislation with the goal of combating international and domestic trafficking, while protecting and helping victims.
• Previously, Rep. Hultgren was a featured panelist at the Celebrating Life Unity Breakfast in February, hosted by Patriots United, which addressed human trafficking’s threat to Illinois’ communities.
• This past summer, he hosted a screening for Members of Congress and their staff of Nefarious: Merchant of Souls, a documentary that unveils the hidden world of sex slavery as recounted by former victims and traffickers.
• He has co-sponsored the Fraudulent Overseas Recruitment and Trafficking Elimination Act of 2013 (H.R. 3344) and is an original co-sponsor of House Resolution 66, a House Resolution urging that children trafficked in the United States be treated as victims of crime, and not as perpetrators.

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Earlier this year, Patriots United’s annual breakfast featured sex trafficking. You can read the article here.