Kohl-Welles selected to serve on prestigious international panel fighting human trafficking

OLYMPIA – Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, is one of only four American legislators and 14 women elected leaders from 10 countries selected to attend the Center for Women Policy Studies’ inaugural GlobalPOWER (Partnership of Women Elected Representatives) conference from May 31 through June 3, 2006, in Washington, D.C. This unique conference will build sustainable partnerships among these key leaders to address the international trafficking of women and girls as a women’s human rights crisis.

“My goal is to work with other legislative and parliamentary leaders to develop creative policy options and strategies to effectively respond to international trafficking of women and girls,” Kohl-Welles said. “GlobalPOWER will help me to craft effective legislative and policy initiatives — and global advocacy strategies.”

“We are honored to welcome these splendid leaders to the Center and we are inspired by their extraordinary commitment to protecting women’s human rights in their country and around the world. The new partnerships they will forge at our GlobalPOWER conference will make a difference in addressing international trafficking of women and girls,” said Center President Leslie R. Wolfe.

Often called the modern-day version of slavery, human trafficking involves transporting people within and across borders for multiple reasons: to be forcibly placed in sweatshops, perform domestic or agricultural labor, work in the sex trade, or be married through marriage brokers, also known as international matchmaking organizations (IMOs).

Kohl-Welles is a longtime advocate of anti-trafficking measures. She worked with former Rep. Velma Veloria (D-Seattle) and many advocates in the Asia-Pacific Islander community in leading Washington’s efforts as the first state in the nation to enact laws on the issue. And Washington continues to this day to lead the country in efforts to fight against human trafficking and mail-order bride abuses:

• In 2002, the Washington State Legislature was the first in the nation to pass legislation regulating IMOs and to establish an anti-trafficking task force.
• In 2003, it was the first to enact legislation to criminalize trafficking and to provide additional protections to mail-order brides.
• In 2005, it again led all other states by passing legislation aimed at developing protocols for providing services for trafficking victims. The protocols’ driving force was the realization that trafficking victims are far too often hidden and that identifying victims is the first step in making meaningful change in how a state or community combats trafficking and assists victims.

In the 2006 session, the Legislature authorized additional funding for the work of the anti-trafficking task force. It is now a class C felony for someone to knowingly sell travel services for the purpose of prostitution, thanks to legislation sponsored by Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Olympia.

The Center for Women Policy Studies is a national, nonprofit, multiethnic feminist policy research and advocacy institution in Washington, D.C., founded in 1972. The Center identifies and addresses issues that have a significant impact on women and girls. Kohl-Welles was a member of its first class of Foreign Policy Fellows in 2001.

Return to Sen. Kohl-Welles' home page