Human Trafficking In The News 8-24-2011

Conspiracy Of Hope's blog will have a new semi-regular feature highlighting sex trafficking, forced labor, and child exploitation in the news. We will compile a brief synopsis of each story with the link (click on the bold heading of each story). This will allow us to highlight those individuals and groups responsible for stopping trafficking and those who are the most egregious perpetrators of human rights violations.

9 charged in sex trafficking investigation in Chicago. -Dozens of girls, some as young as 12, were forced into prostitution. The girls and women, some of them homeless, were recruited on CTA trains, the Internet or during random meetings on the street.

Rachel Weisz stars in new film about Sex-Trafficking.-A drama based on the experiences of Kathryn Bolkovac, a Nebraska cop who served as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia and outed the U.N. for covering up a sex trafficking scandal. Watch the trailer below.

Whistleblower Trailer by teasertrailer

Sex Trafficking bust in Fairfax County. -13 women and girls forced into prostitution in and around the nations capitol. According to the article, "The pimp's prostitution ring frequented certain areas, so much so that an unidentified Falls Church hotel gave Cornejo a discount because he rented rooms so often, the affidavit said. Cornejo also used a Super 8 Motel in Manassas, his mother's house and locations within the Four Mile Run area of Arlington."

Czech Police charge Nigerian Black Magic Sex Traffickers. Girls were promised jobs as hairdressers or as hospitality sector workers and then forced into prostitution. Some of the girls were forced to take part in black magic rituals that included ceremonies that took place in mortuaries with the girls being forced to drink their own blood and warned their families would die if they broke their oaths. (warning: link contains semi-graphic photo.)

The Spanish clothing giant behind the Zara brand is being investigated over the use of slave labour in Brazil. The 15 workers, one of whom was reported to be just 14 years old, were understood to be living in dangerous conditions on the factory floor.

Zara of India. The Spanish retail giant has stores in 73 countries and according to a recent statement has a "zero tolerance for infringements of this kind."

Southeastern Connecticut pediatrician arrested on federal child pornography charges. Todd Parrilla, 47, of Stonington, was arrested on August 23 by members of the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force and charged in a federal criminal complaint with possession, receipt and distribution of child pornography.

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From all of us at Conspiracy Of Hope, thank you for caring about justice and for being a voice for the voiceless.