Blog

IAFF '09 Alum Libby Spears to Speak at Congressional Hearing on Sex Trafficking

By Jody Arlington on February 8, 2010 10:25 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Impact Film Festival '09 Alum Libby Spears is poised to see excerpts from her film, PLAYGROUND, screened before a senate committee hearing on sex trafficking for the second time in three months. She will also participate in the hearing, provided the DC inclement weather doesn't result in a reschedule.  The film is shaping attitudes and legislation as increasing numbers of policy-makers are exposed to its powerful portrayal of sex trafficking of children in the US.

Senator Richard Durbin, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law will convene a Subcommittee hearing entitled "In Our Own Backyard: Child Prostitution and Sex Trafficking in the United States" this week, a direct result of viewing PLAYGROUND, which outlines the problem in the US.  They plan to present excerpts from the film at the hearing.  This follows a hill briefing Senator Ron Wyden held in December and legislation he introduced that targets federal funds to regions of the country with the greatest need.  According to the legislation, each pilot project would receive a grant of $2.5 million.  The money would be used for:

• Shelters to provide separate housing for trafficking victims;
• Clothing and other daily needs to keep victims from returning to the street;
• Victims' assistance counseling and legal services;
• Education or job training classes for victims;
• Training for law enforcement and social services providers;
• Police officer salaries-patrol officers, detectives, investigators;
• Prosecutor salaries and other trial expenses;
• Investigation expenses-wiretaps, expert consultants, travel, other "technical assistance" expenditures (currently, there is a cap on "technical assistance" that is too low.);
• Outreach, education, and deterrence/prevention efforts.

Libby Spears, who also participated in Senator Wyden's event, told us, "We're thrilled that PLAYGROUND is being utilized by policy-makers in their efforts to end sex trafficking and increase support for victims in the US.  These hearings are the beginning of the battle and more legislators and citizens need to engage in the conversation that PLAYGROUND is trying to jumpstart."

We'll check in with Libby after the hearing and keep you updated on what happens, as well as any change-making from other films we've championed as they move beyond awareness to achieving real impact.