Nearly two months ago, July 5, 2016, Hawai'i became the last state to ban human trafficking. It is something to be celebrated as these new laws also provide protection for victims; before, prostitutes would be treated as criminals regardless of how they got into the sex industry. But the fact that these laws were so late in coming also raises some concerns. Why did it take so long to ban human trafficking in the first place?
When you take a look at the history of Hawaii's sex industry, you realize it's a bit of a complicated one. For example, up until two years ago, law enforcement officers could legally have sex with prostitutes to aid their investigations. In other words, they had the ability to add to the victimization of women and children trapped in the sex industry. Oh, and yes, your tax money would have paid for those sessions. There is little evidence that any officers actually put this 'legal aid' to use, but it immediately raises red flags about Hawaii's attitude towards trafficked victims.
Unfortunately, it does make sense that the sex industry is a complicated and gigantic issue for Hawai'i. Hawai'i is and has been a hub for prostitution because traffickers use Hawai'i as a first stop to the mainland and others cater their girls to the large tourist population. It is difficult to regulate the sex industry and things can get complicated when a business, illegal or not, makes a lot of money. But finally setting laws in place to ban trafficking is a step in the right direction.
Additionally, because these laws seek to help rather than incriminate victims, these girls can hopefully have a greater chance at a better life. A lot of girls in the sex industry who want off the streets feel like the law can't or won't help them. Their fears have been true in large part since they've been without legal help for so long.
Trafficking, not prostitution, is the true criminal activity, Thanks to two-month-old laws that have made trafficking, not prostitution, a violent crime and a class A felony, this mindset is underway and Hawai'i as a state will hopefully seek to incriminate the traffickers and help the victims.
