Global Hope 365 promotes global change through local action. Rima Nashashibi became increasingly aware of the various injustices women and girls suffer due to local and global gender-based violence. She founded Global Hope 365 to end the harmful violence women and girls experience in the United States, namely Child Marriage and Human Trafficking.
The bedrock of Global Hope 365 is Rima's lifelong dedication to educate and empower women and girls. Raising awareness of gender-based violence, we become equipped to eradicate Child Marriage and Human Trafficking and halt the life-long trauma victims of such violence endure. To this end, Global Hope 365 educates, empowers, and prevents through community-based local advocacy, education, and training.
Located in Orange County, Rima works tirelessly advocating for legislation banning Child Marriage. No Marriage Under the Age of 18, No Exceptions. Global Hope 365 focus is on protecting women, teens, and children from sexual violence and exploitation.
Here are a few of Global Hope 365 upcoming actions.
1. On April 22nd, 2021, Rima submitted written testimony in support of AB 1286, An act to amend Sections 102233 and 102356 of the Health and Safety Code relating to marriage.
2. On May 1st, 2021, Rima will be presenting a The Lebanese American University - Intersectional Feminist Club
You can make a difference. Start today by picking up the phone.
Call your Senator/Assemblymember and ask them to co-sponsor and vote for these bills.
1. CA SB435: Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) has introduced SB 435, the "Ending Online Sexual Trafficking and Exploitation Act," a bill to tackle online sexual exploitation and trafficking, giving victims, including children, more civil causes of action against the distribution of naked or sexual photographs and video.
2. CA SB248: Senate Bill 248 (SB 248) SD DA Sponsored bill authored by Senator Patricia Bates. This bill would extend the presumption of openness that exists in almost all California Courtrooms to proceedings under the Sexually Violent Predator Act and closes a loophole regarding continuing commitment for sexually violent predators (SVP).
3. CA AB341: Authored by Assemblywoman Boerner Horvath. SD DA is joined by California’s Crime Victims United. AB 341 is a legislative update to California’s Rape Shield Law in light of the exploding online socialization occurring on digital platforms. It will require a procedure to screen admissibility when the defense attorneys seek to admit the social media evidence to attack the survivor’s credibility. We are joined by California’s Crime Victims United in sponsoring this needed legislation.
4. SB 382: Authored by Caballero. SB 382 is related to Human trafficking restraining orders. SB 382 Would require a court to issue a restraining order prohibiting a person convicted of violating that provision from having any contact with the minor who was the victim of the violation. The bill would require the duration of that order to be at least ten years from the date the person completed the term of imprisonment imposed due to the violation. The bill would also require, except in specified circumstances, the court to issue a restraining order prohibiting a person held to answer for violating that provision from having any contact with the minor who was the alleged victim of the violation from the date the court found that there was probable cause to believe that the defendant is guilty of violating that provision until the date the person is either acquitted or convicted.
5. AB 346: Authored by Rodriguez. AB 346 is related to Foreign Contracts. AB 364 is beneficial to both workers and businesses in California. It would ensure that temporary workers have the information necessary to protect themselves from fraudulent labor recruiters and ensures they are not vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking resulting from the payment of illegally assessed recruiting fees. This bill helps businesses that recruit
their own temporary workers or who use legitimate FLCs by ensuring that they do not have to compete with unscrupulous FLCs who fraudulently procure many of the limited temporary work visas and exploit both employers and workers by charging illegal fees for their
services. It also protects businesses who use a registered FLC by providing immunity from liability for the acts of FLC.
We feel grateful for all the critical work accomplished to date. Please spread the word and help us to grow our reach. If you're not already, get connected to us on Social Media @GlobalHope365. You can do your part to make a difference by participating in our ongoing Digital Letter Writing Campaigns. Click this link to learn more. Together we can spread awareness regarding the bills that we're supporting, listed in our Action Center above.
Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF).
This month delivered us many opportunities to impact our mission to End Human Trafficking and Child Marriage. We wanted to take a moment to highlight the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF).
They have released their 2021 Human Trafficking Victim Report, and it's marked a 10-year milestone partnership. A collaboration of leadership by Anaheim Police Department and Nonprofit Waymakers. This unique collaboration between law enforcement and victim services has made strides in community advocacy and education throughout the last decade, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. You may read the report in its entirety or review the highlights below.
Highlights from the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF).
Michelle Heater, program director, Victim Assistance Programs, is a powerful advocate for victims. Her focus as a community director is to bring together community collaboration, awareness, and educational partnerships.
She states, the “Goal of the Task Force is to put the victims first when it comes to our services and based upon this year's report, and we know there is a significant need among victims for our support."
Key Takeaways:
• In 2019-2020, the Task Force assisted 357 victims of sex and labor trafficking. This is a slight decrease, likely due to law enforcement’s limited ability to be proactive with human trafficking investigations and victim identification during COVID-19.
• During the pandemic, the volume of calls from the National Human Trafficking Hotline increased, with 29 percent of calls coming from victims needing assistance who resided outside the service area of Orange County.
• Over the last ten years, 94 percent of cases reviewed by the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit were filed, and of the cases that went to a jury trial, 95 percent received a guilty verdict.
• Orange County is a destination location for human trafficking victimization; approximately 80 percent of victims are not from Orange County.
COVID-19 Impacts Victim Assistance Approach but Not Trafficking Activity
While the 2021 Victim Report shows a slight decrease in victims assisted compared to the last report released in 2019 (from 415 to 357), this was likely due to law enforcement's limited ability to be proactive with human trafficking investigations and victim identification during COVID-19. Call-out response consisted of 13 percent in comparison to 27 percent in 2019 and 35 percent in 2018.
The pandemic, however, increased the volume of calls from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, with 29 percent of calls coming from victims who resided outside the service area of Orange County needing assistance.
Although the number of referrals for services made from prosecution was high in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the work helping victims navigate the criminal justice system process was significantly slowed as investigations and the court system was unable to move at the same levels as before the pandemic.
In 2020, therapy services increased for victims, which could be a result of increased mental health support needs due to the isolation and stress of COVID-19 on victims. The biggest challenge noted during 2020 was navigating how to provide support during a pandemic.
Waymakers and The Salvation Army, the primary organizations providing direct victim support for trafficking victims, were forced to significantly adapt their service delivery models to comply with health guidelines. For example, support groups that offer victims the opportunity to openly speak about their trauma had to meet online, and the sense of community shifted for those who needed support.
Key Findings in a Decade of Work
In 2010, the OCHTTF was one of three task forces awarded the U.S. Department of Justice - Bureau of Justice Assistance and Office for Victims of Crime’s first Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) to Combat Human Trafficking project and continues to function as such to address all forms of human trafficking in Orange County.
Waymakers and Anaheim Police Department lead this ECM and have transitioned to a victim-centered and trauma-enforced approach to combat human trafficking in Orange County.
Over the past decade, the data shows that human trafficking crosses all racial, ethnic, gender, socio-economic, and cultural lines. Local law enforcement has consistently been the top victim referral source for trafficking cases.
Criminal justice advocacy started as one of the bottom needs for victims but has gradually increased in need over the last ten years.
In the years that housing assistance needs among victims were higher, transportation assistance was lower. This potentially shows that when access to housing in Orange County was limited, the need for relocation assistance and transportation assistance increases.
This correlation is important for the OCHTTF to consider as Orange County is a destination location for human trafficking victimization; approximately 80 percent of victims are not from Orange County. Depending on the locations where sex trafficking may be occurring—street, hotels, residential brothels, massage parlors—the victims are brought into Orange County anywhere from days to months before they are moved again.
For the last decade, this invaluable partnership between law enforcement, prosecutors, and victims’ assistance is helping to provide justice in human trafficking cases and help safeguard victims from predators who will do everything they can to exploit them.”
Looking Ahead to the Next Decade
The Task Force also recommends public health focus on prevention, exit strategy options, and community reintegration to reduce recidivism and the revolving door of victimization for this serial crime.
Prevention education for both male and female youth with strategies to divert youth from committing these acts of power, control, and violence is also critical. Opportunities to provide accessible and safe platforms for survivors to provide feedback and have a voice in building and changing programming are also recommended to inform additional victim-centered and trauma-informed training for service providers, law enforcement, and the community.
Global Hope 365 is educating city, county, and local lawmakers on human trafficking prevention and increased penalties for offenders. Support our outreach efforts to establish a human trafficking perpetrator registry to help law enforcement efforts to prevent human trafficking victims.
Learn how you can make a difference.
Go to our website and sign up to volunteer your time.
Please donate today to fund our projects in Orange County and Globally.
If you are interested in having Rima speak at your organization, you can Reserve a date and time by emailing yasmeen@globalhope.org.
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