Soroptimist Club : Port Angeles Jet Set

Soroptimist Clubs in Port Angeles Aim to Strop Trafficking

Women’s organization will distribute information about sexual

trafficking and slavery

STOP is what Port Angeles-based Soroptimists say to trafficking. Members of SI Port Angeles Jet Set and SI Port Angeles (Noon Club) are a part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, an international volunteer organization for business and professional women that recently launched an awareness campaign called Soroptimists STOP Trafficking to shed light on its negative impact on women and girls. Soroptimist, whose mission is to improve the lives of women and girls, launched the campaign on January 11—the National Day of Human Trafficking Awareness. The U.S. Senate passed a nationwide resolution in June 2007 designating this day to acknowledge that the techniques used by traffickers to keep their victims enslaved severely limits self-reporting; thus, it is imperative there be increased public awareness and advocacy on behalf of the voiceless women and girls held captive. To raise awareness of trafficking, Port Angeles Soroptimists will distribute printed cards, entitled “The New Face of Slavery,” to the public that contain information about the sexual trafficking of women and girls. Sexual trafficking is the movement of people, within national or across international borders, for the purposes of prostitution or other forms of commercial sexual exploitation. Port Angeles Soroptimists want the public to become aware of it depth, and to be able to recognize a woman or girl—perhaps a neighbor—who may need help getting out of a dire situation. Approximately 75 percent of all human trafficking victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation. Each year, between 800,000 and 900,000 people are trafficked across international borders—80 percent of whom are women and children. An estimated 14,500-17,500 people are trafficked into the United States each year. There are reports of sexual trafficking in at least 20 states, with most cases occurring in New York, California, and Florida. Soroptimist also encourages people to visit its website for more information about sexual trafficking and what individuals can do to stop it. The sexual trafficking white paper located on the site provides those who know little about the problem with detailed information. Soroptimist International of Port Angeles Jet Set and Port Angeles (Noon Club) are part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. Soroptimist is an international volunteer organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world.