HARTFORD, Conn. - A Connecticut group that aids victims of human trafficking is speaking out about the role that sexual violence plays in this crime. It's hoping to bring more attention to the deadly connection during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

According to the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants, sexual assault can occur in any form of trafficking. Leonela Cruz, director of CIRI's Project Rescue, works with labor and sex-trafficking survivors and highlighted the similar dynamics of trafficking and sexual assault.

"It's that ongoing power, that control, that abuse that they maintain over that human being, the exploitation of the human being," she said, "and it's really important to remember that; it could be verbal, it could be physical."

Immigrants, people in the LGBTQ community, and people with disabilities are among the groups most often targeted by traffickers, according to Freedom Networks USA.

Cruz cited Connecticut projects such as a rapid rehousing program as one of several ways CIRI and other local organizations are working to help survivors. She said getting housing for survivors is a vital step to getting them to a better place overall.

"If we can fix that housing situation, make sure that they are on that path to become self sufficient - be able to pay the rent - then we can begin building on the other things, in hopes that they are able to do this on their own once their service period is over," she said.

Cruz emphasized that conversations about human trafficking and sexual assault need to continue past this month. The National Sexual Assault Hotline can be reached anytime at 1-800-656-4673. The National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888.


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April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and new research at Utah State University finds one in seven Utah children experiences sexual abuse -- higher than the national average of one in nine. The data also find Utah girls experience a higher rate of sexual abuse than boys.

Kolene Anderson, associate director of the Utah Women and Leadership Project, suspects those figures are even higher. She contends there is a gap between what people think is happening in their communities and what is actually taking place.

While the state ranks fifth in the nation for the number of people sentenced for sexual abuse, according to the United States Sentencing Commission, Anderson noted the cases that actually reach the sentencing stage are only a fraction of all sexual crimes.

"Sure, we need to continue with the accountability side, but we've got to start having conversations about child sexual abuse in terms of prevention -- and it can't always just focus on parents and children," she explained.

The report indicates the state did allocate funding for child sexual abuse prevention in K-6 curriculum last year, which Anderson sees as a positive, but said additional support and resources are still needed. She's calling for more investment to teach Utahns about respect, consent and bystander intervention.

If you or someone you know is a victim, you can call 801-736-4356 or 801-924-0860 for assistance in Spanish.

Anderson said the state has historically focused on policies that punish offenders after abuse has happened. She added there is a narrative that registered sex offenders are the ones people should be worried about. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in most cases, a child is victimized by someone they know and trust.

"It's not the registry that we need to be focusing on," she said. "It is really understanding the vulnerabilities that our children have and the various places that individuals may insert themselves to be able to gain access."

Anderson is convinced that the state needs to reconceptualize its outlook on child sexual abuse and start looking at the issue from every angle.

"It is much like training everyone out on the roads how to avoid a drunk driver -- and punishing the drunk driver after someone is killed. That is already impacting a family, and our approach to child sexual abuse has kind of been like that," she concluded.

More than 100 people came to the Ohio Statehouse to mark National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month late last week. As part of the 13th Annual Advocacy Day to End Sexual Violence, they urged state lawmakers to protect survivors and expand prevention efforts.

Rep. Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati, told the group it is about channeling emotion into action.

"Advocating on issues that matter most to your community, that is one of the answers to the question: How do we use that energy?" Isaacsohn explained. "We should all be using it to fight for things we believe in, by coming together collectively."

Survivors are also voicing concerns over House Bill 172, which would require parental consent for teen mental health care, saying it could silence young people. Supporters of the bill argued it would restore parental rights in making sensitive decisions.

Leanna Rocheleau told the group she survived a 2021 assault by a massage therapist. She said she tried every official channel in her pursuit of justice but was met with silence.

"It became a story of betrayal by a system that was never designed with survivors in mind," Rocheleau recounted. "I believed in a system that didn't believe me. It has been 1,325 days since I reported my assault; 12 more victims came forward and he still works there."

Now, she said advocacy is her path to healing and to fixing the system.

Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, who received an award for championing survivor legislation, said hearing those voices makes a difference.

"They're a huge help, not only in reaching out to other senators and representatives trying to push the legislation through, but also helping craft the legislation as well," Manning emphasized.

Advocates are asking lawmakers to maintain $15 million in funding in the operating budget for Ohio's network of rape crisis centers. Last year, those services reached more than 30,000 survivors in 78 counties.


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The Nebraska Legislature is considering a bill that would provide nearly $1 million to help survivors of domestic abuse and sex trafficking pay for emergency housing.

Recent research shows that 1.4 million Nebraskans have reported some form of domestic or sexual violence in their lifetimes.

Jo Bair, executive director of the Encourage Advocacy Center in Hastings, said lack of access to safe and affordable housing is a primary barrier for survivors of sex trafficking and intimate partner violence, who are trying to escape abusive relationships.

"So," said Bair, "these survivors are having to weigh out, 'Do I stay in an unsafe situation, or do I leave and potentially become homeless, potentially have my children become homeless?'"

Bair added that people who've experienced domestic violence or sex trafficking have almost always suffered financial abuse. They're either prevented from working, or have had their work sabotaged.

They're often cut off from people who could help them, and have poor or no credit history.

The measure is currently pending in the Nebraska Legislative Revenue Committee.

Nebraska has passed legislation in the past designed to help victims of domestic violence, but Bair said LB 78 goes further, by bridging the cost and social service gap that has been left in the past.

"These are also funds that are going to be provided to people who are working with victim service agencies, who are doing extensive case management support to help ensure that there is sustainability," said Bair, "and that people are going to be able to support themselves after they have this initial help."

Critics of plans like the one proposed in LB 78 worry about people's ongoing dependence on the state for financial help.



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