Pass the Safe Harbor Act in Minnesota!

Hey Everyone,

All around the nation, anti-traffficking activists are working to pass the Safe Harbor Act. This ensures that children who are sexually exploited are NOT treated as criminals, but victims. Right now, our laws are contradictory! It is considered statutory rape for someone over 18 to have sex with someone 18 and under. At the same time, "prostitution", at whatever age, is criminal. So...how can we say that a girl who is "prostituting" is not actually being PROSTITUTED, i.e. victimized and RAPED!?

Minnesota is working to pass the Bill now. Please call your legislators!

"Minnesota House Bill 556 would explicitly define sexually-exploited youth as children in need of protection and services, require the Commissioner of Public Safety to develop a statewide service model for this vulnerable population, and increase penalties for those who purchase children for sex. This bill will have its first hearing in the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, March 9.

House Bill 556 would explicitly define sexually-exploited youth as children in need of protection and services, ensure that these youth are not categorized as juvenile delinquents, require the Commissioner of Public Safety develop a statewide model to serve sexually-exploited youth or youth at risk of sexual exploitation, defines “prostitute” as only those over 18 (2014), and increases penalties for those who purchase children for sex."

http://www.polarisproject.org/take-action/advocate/402-urge-minnesota-legislators-to-support-safe-harbor-for-sexually-exploited-youth