Mumbai Gang Rape-A Cultural Disease

Recently a 22 year old photo journalist in the Indian City of Mumbai was accosted and gang raped by five young men. She was attacked at an abandoned textile mill where she was on a photo assignment with a male colleague. The young woman, an intern with a Mumbai based English magazine,  was at The Shakti Mills for a photo shoot when the attack occurred. 

Her male colleague was beaten during the attack. The female victim was hospitalized after the incident with multiple injuries but has a strong spirit and was eager to get to back to work. In the few days subsequent to the attack all five assailants were arrested and jailed. This incident follows on the heels of the gang rape of a 23 year old student who was on a bus in the capital of Delhi. This young woman subsequently died of her injuries. This most recent case has renewed widespread public outrage following national demonstrations which occurred last December following the death of the young woman assaulted and mortally wounded on the bus.

This gang rape and so many other instances of abuse of women represents a cultural disease which needs to be addressed. Women all over the world have been marginalized and subordinated for too long. When we diminish the humanity of an individual, it is easy for us to turn them into a target. People of good conscience need to continue to work to elevate women to equal status as fellow human beings in society worldwide. We cannot afford morally and economically to minimize half of the population as everyone loses when this continues to happen.

We need to teach young men to respect girls and women and not view them as sexual toys and targets for forced sexual experience. Aggression against women hurts everyone and is a cancer on society. Violence against women needs to be reduced and eliminated by an ongoing campaign to advance and protect the human rights of all citizens regardless of gender. We need to work harder to raise young people who are ethical, caring and possessed of strong conscience. It is our only and best hope.

Richard Lazere, on behalf of East Portland Rotary Human Trafficking Task Force

Polaris Project State Ranking on Human Trafficking Laws-2013 Polaris Project-“For a World without Slavery”

The Polaris Project has just recently issued their state by state rankings on progress in enacting and enforcing anti human trafficking laws as well as what deficiencies need to be remedied in the criminal and civil codes so as to provide more effective tools in the war against trafficking.

Oregon was found to be lacking a statute that mandates or encourages the public posting of a Human Trafficking Hotline, such as the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline or an equivalent state human trafficking hotline.

Oregon was also seen to be in need of a statute that recognizes sexually exploited individuals under 18 as victims of crime in need of protection and services by granting immunity from prosecution or diverting minors from juvenile delinquency proceedings and instead directing them to child welfare services

It was also recommended that survivors of sex trafficking be afforded the ability to seek civil damages from their traffickers. Such a statute would empower survivors to express their indignation at their victimization and provide money damages for rehabilitation and personal relaunching.

This Oregon report documents the fact that we are doing many things well in the Human Trafficking battle but also suggests that there is room for improvement as per the above suggestions. These deficiencies in Oregon criminal and civil law can and will serve as some focus and impetus in continued efforts to send the message loud and clear that “Our women and girls are not for sale in Oregon.”

Richard Lazere on behalf of East Portland Rotary Human Trafficking Taskforce

Demand for Child Sex Trafficking in the U.S.

DATE: 8/15/13

PUBLICATION: Huff Post Impact

LINK: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/malika-saada-saar/demand-for-child-sex-trafficking_b_3682287.html

SUMMARY: There is a culture of impunity that allows "Johns" to buy girls, without consequence or fear of punishment. The necessary laws exist to arrest and prosecute individuals who purchase underage girls. These buyers can be arrested and prosecuted for child endangerment, statutory rape, or sexual assault of a minor. There is simply not the political will, on the part of law enforcement, the courts, and politicians to hold buyers accountable for their crimes against underage girls.

Richard Lazere on behalf of The East Portland Rotary Human Trafficking task force.