The opposition to prop 35 is growing and it begs the question, why? "Is forced sex not rape?" Asked a victim. "I was not working; I was being raped over and over by grown men! I was a child! I was kidnapped! Beaten and abused! I was NOT working" She says as she bursts into tears. "Sex trafficking is the worst type of trafficking of all because people steal your soul. The pimp, the trafficker, the john and finally the system. Nobody cares about me and there is no price you can put on that!" The victim hangs her head in deep shame.
Dapne Phung and Rosario Dowling, a couple of real life hero's in the Californian community, has poured their lives out over the subject to change that idea over these last three years by pain stakingly bringing this most important CASE initiative to life. They have brought more Californians awareness about the issue through their organization California Against Slavery, and more experts together for the common good. The real experts of the issue are the victims who were RAPED over and over again for profit and that is NOT the same as other types of human trafficking.
Let's define the word rape by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: unlawful sexual activity and usually sexual intercourse carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against the will usually of a female or with a person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent.
Now lets define the word labor by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: human activity that provides the goods or services in an economy (2): the services performed by workers for wages as distinguished from those rendered by entrepreneurs for profits.
The fact that human sex trafficking victims are forced to endure torture by having someone force their body parts and fluids in them and on them clearly defines sex trafficking different from other forms of trafficking. It is rape, not labor. Some so called human trafficking experts like to define rape as labor and therefore undermine the sex trafficking victims by giving pimps, predators, johns, and traffickers less time for their heinous crimes. As the law stands now, a sex trafficker only gets up to 12 years in California and with parole, traffickers can be out much faster than that only to victimize more women and children in the process.
If a child or woman is kidanapped and raped by a pedophile or sex offender who happened to be convicted in a court of law, that person would surley get more time than a mere 8-12 years.
Why is this any different? The human trafficking laws clearly undermine the crime and the time pedophiles, sex offenders, traffickers, johns, and other abusers get... all because of a new 'human trafficking' law labeling rape as labor, even if it is a child.
Human sex trafficking involves several henious crimes such as kidnapping, multiple rapes, assault, cohersion, drugging in most cases, and being sold to sex offenders, johns, and pedophiles if the victim is a child.
Lets look at the law as it stands right now: The current human trafficking Penal Code section, 236.1: “Any person who deprives or violates the personal liberty of another with the intent to obtain forced labor or services, is guilty of human trafficking and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for five, eight, or twelve years and a fine of not more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).”
The CASE Act then proposes the following sentencing standards for sexual exploitation: 8, 14, or 20 years if the victim is an adult; 5, 8, or 12 years with a minor victim if the case involves a minor victim and, …”when the offense involves force, fear, fraud, deceit, coercion, violence, duress, menace, or threat of unlawful injury to the victim or to another person”, sentencing can range from 15 years to life! And this section of the law includes “attempts” at sex trafficking as well. Now that's what we call justice!!!!
John Vanek doesn't think so though. He thinks rape is labor and that sex trafficking victims shouldn't get any special treatment. He is retired in the rank of Lieutenant from the San Jose Police Department in October 2011. John managed the SJPD Human Trafficking Task Force from 2006-2011, sits on a variety of state- and national-level advisory boards, and currently works as a consultant on anti-human trafficking, collaboration, and leadership-related topics.
He believes all human trafficking victims are created equal but are they? Rape is not labor as we saw earlier in this article. In his blog Mr. Vanek explores the different sides of prop 35 and opposes the proposition. He refuses to allow any opposition to be written to his thoughts and so therefore, Rosario Dowling wrote this in response to John Vanek’s blog:
TELL THE TRUTH:
Both SAGE & CHAB DAI have taken a NEUTRAL position.
HIDDEN TRUTH:
Why? Why did John Vanek wait for the initiative to qualify for the November ballot before helping to "enlighten" CA Voters with his concerns? Please respond.
TIMELINE OF TRUTH:
2009 You, John Vanek met CAS Director & Founder Daphne Phung at a human trafficking forum and were, “immediately impressed by passion & determination exhibited by her & CAS staff."
2010 CAS Director & Founder Daphne Phung approaches "thee" human trafficking specialist in San Jose, you, John Vanek, for help with an endorsement, and you, John Vanek, DID NOT state your "concerns" with the initiative process approach to helping human trafficking victims.
2010 CAS Director & Founder Daphne Phung obtained endorsement from San Jose POA, BUT You, John Vanek, were not asked or consulted eventhough You, John Vanek, were "thee" person in charge of the federally funded anti-human trafficking task force since 2006.
2010 -2012(Jan.3) You, John Vanek, made no attempt to express or inform CAS Director & Founder Daphne Phung of your concerns with the CASE Act initiative.
2012(Jan.4)Your ONLY blog entry for 2012
2012(Late July)You, John Vanek, looked to be included in CA Voter Guide as Opposition, but it was too late.
2012(Late July - Aug 13) You, John Vanek, searched for a way to express your "concerns" with Prop 35 maybe?
2012(Aug.14)Your 1st blog entry voicing your "concerns" with Prop 35.
Why now John Vanek? Why were you not looking out for all the human trafficking victims that could have been helped by the $1.8 million dollars invested by Philanthropist & Businessman Chris Kelly into the CASE Act/PROP 35 Campaign? Help the victims and advocates understand why the service providers who have endorsed YES on PROP 35 are not "experienced" enough to be credible endorsers?
California Against Slavery and Safer California Foundation have brought together Northern CA, Central Ca, & Southern Ca by way of human trafficking awareness panels, forums, radio & TV interviews, and road rallies ALL with FULL SUPPORT & INVOLVEMENT of SURVIVORS...the REAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING EXPERTS.
TELL the TRUTH...CASE Act / PROP35 has motivated, inspired, and called -to-action more Californians in these past 2 years than anything or anyone else. Why? Let's see, California is tired of "If it isn't broke don't fix it" mentality. The problem, the justice system is broken and VULNERABLE WOMEN and CHILDREN are being "broken" as we sit and wait for laws to be introduced, diluted, and reintroduced. Help STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING. VOTE YES on PROP 35!
As of now, any opposing comments on his blog are sent off to a nexus called "awaiting moderation" and seem to just be lost! No opposing comment can be seen on John Vanek's blog.
