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On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott signed
the Florida Safe Harbor Act, legislation that protects young victims of the
sex-trafficking industry from prosecution and also provides an avenue for them
to reenter society. The bill was signed at Kristi House in Miami, a safe house
for sexually abused young people, whose clients include children fleeing
commercial sexual exploitation.
Kristi House Program Manager Sandy
Skelaney, who authored the Florida initiative, created the “GOLD program -
“Girls Owning Their Lives and Dreams” - to help abuse victims. But she realized
it was not enough, and she approached lawmakers in Tallahassee seeking legal
solutions.
“At the end of the day, we want them
to reach a safe house, not push them deeper into a system that treats them like
criminals,” Skelaney said at the bill-signing ceremony. The legislation was the
culmination of three years of grassroots efforts and political discussion.
Kristi House Executive Director Trudy Novicki also was instrumental in getting
the measure passed and signed into law.
At the signing, Florida Rep. Erik
Fresen said, “You can get a peek through the window of the darkness that exists
on the streets of Miami and our country here.”
The new law gives discretion to
police officers to drop off young traffickers at a safe house instead of jail.
It is hoped that aiding victims also will help in the prosecution of
perpetrators, said Attorney General Pam Bondi, who accompanied the governor.
The law also was backed by US Sen. Marco Rubio.
Kristi House is looking for a site
for an emergency shelter and drop-in center for girls. “Nobody should have to
go through that trauma alone,” Skelaney said.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
