Oregon’s Lane County faces an uphill battle against human trafficking with efforts focusing on community strategies and overcoming legal and resource challenges.
Quick Takes
- A panel organized in Eugene highlighted community strategies to combat human trafficking.
- Over 150 people attended the event, emphasizing indigenous victims’ vulnerability.
- Calls for legally defining human trafficking in Oregon to enable targeted prosecutions.
- Local initiatives focus on fostering awareness and creating safe environments for victims.
Community Awareness and Prevention
A community discussion organized by the Junior League of Eugene took place recently at Eugene’s Hult Center. The panel stressed the need for awareness and prevention of human trafficking. Key attendees included advocates working on issues of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). National Human Trafficking Hotline reports indicate nearly 250 victims in Oregon in 2023 alone, making such discussions crucial.
Sarah Koski of the Lane Transit District noted, “Every one of our buses is a designated safe place for youth. We partner with Looking Glass, our downtown station, and our Springfield station as well.” The priority is evident in initiatives like the Lane Transit District’s designation of buses as safe spaces and training programs for employees. Yet, many trafficking victims fail to seek help, often due to coercion or lack of awareness about their victimization.
Legal and Resource Challenges
Prosecuting trafficking in Oregon remains tough because there is no stand-alone “human trafficking” statute. Lane County District Attorney Chris Parosa mentioned that these cases come under related charges like sexual abuse or coercion, emphasizing the need for a specific crime or enhancement factor in state laws. He stated, “while we will use the fact that a suspect/criminal defendant was trafficking a victim as a potential aggravating factor in a case, that only occurs where we have additional evidence to demonstrate that fact.”
A panelist pointed to the significant challenges in prosecuting these cases because victims often hesitate to testify against their traffickers due to fear or emotional bonds. Approximately 70% of trafficking cases involve sexual acts, frequently facilitated through online platforms. The Interstate 5 corridor, which stretches through several major West Coast cities, serves as a trafficking route, further complicating the issue.
Community and Coalition Building
Beyond legal hurdles, Lane County is under-resourced for effectively addressing the trafficking issue. Organizations such as Lane County Against Trafficking and Kids FIRST, which focus on vulnerable youth, play a vital role in local efforts. Claudia Campbell of the Junior League commented, “Human trafficking is a really complex issue and it requires a lot of different agencies to cooperate with one another and collaborate, so our goal is really just to bring attention to those things and get people really thinking about it.”
Efforts to address trafficking emphasize collaboration across different agencies and community members. Educational sessions and training programs encourage community participation. Parents are urged to educate themselves, monitor their children’s online activities, and communicate with their children about sexual health and healthy relationships. Even with these efforts, sustained commitment and legal reforms are essential to effectively combat human trafficking in Oregon.
