Global human trafficking roundup (September 2, 2010)

NORTH AMERICA

New York; The new legislation will vacate prostitution related convictions of human trafficking survivors. It will therefore clear their records of criminal history related to prostitution. Prior to this new legislation, many survivors faced challenges in obtaining immigration status or economic opportunity because of their criminal history as prostitutes. A sex trafficking fugitive arrives in New York to face charges. She was originally charged with sex trafficking, forced labor, and smuggling. She profited hundreds of thousands of dollars by forcing women into prostitution, placing five victims in a small room, and requiring them to have sex with men with no payment. She remained fugitive for four years until she surrendered herself to the authority last month. 

LATIN AMERICA

Brazil: The authority says that Brazilian human trafficking victims are welcome to return home and start over. The government prepares the guide to aid the victims to come back to their home country from Spain. The victims are young men who were recruited as models and dancers. But, they were forced into prostitution and provided with viagra, cocaine, and other stimulus to perform sex acts for 24 hours. According to the foreign ministry, the victims who return to Brazil will be given the aid to start up a business and receive health care.

EUROPE

UK: A 68 year old woman was charged with trafficking a Tanzanian woman. The Tanzanian woman was removed from the 68 year old woman's house by the police. The Tanzanian woman is currently placed in a shelter for trafficking victim. The report does not mention any details of abuse. 

ASIA

Malaysia: Police rescued 24 Indian victims and arrested two Pakistani. According to the report, the Indians came to Malaysia with a promise of a good job at a factory. Upon arrival, the Indian victims were confined in a house by the two Pakistani until the police came to rescue them. 

Cambodia: Japanese pedophile asks the judge to dismiss his case because the victim's makeup made her look older than her age at the time of abuse. According to the report, the pedophile had sex with the victim on multiple occasions. Though she was 13 at the time of abuse, the pedophile testified that her makeup made her look 18 years old or older, and she consented to have sex with him.