RSSYakima speaker to focus on human trafficking symptoms
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YAKIMA, WASH. -- Human trafficking, which has attracted considerable attention in the Yakima Valley and across the state, will be the focus of a talk Friday night in Yakima.
Rose Gundersen founded Washington Engage two years ago to encourages community groups, schools, police officials and businesses to pay more attention to the signs of human trafficking.
"People need to know likely symptoms of trafficking," Gundersen said in a telephone interview.
An attorney by training, Gundersen spent two years working as a policy researcher for state Attorney General Rob McKenna, helping him make trafficking a priority.
Gundersen grew up in Hong Kong and learned about trafficking from a family member. She discovered that many women who end up being trafficked are also immigrants, an experience she knows something about, having emigrated to the United States to attend college.
Gundersen will discuss practical ways, "bite-sized" ways to identify victims, such as recognizing bruises and the tendencies of a runaway to flee to the same boyfriends.
Gundersen also will discuss House Bills 1983 and 2692 and Senate Bill 6260, which would boost penalties and fees for pimps, johns and labor traffickers.
The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 100,000 to 300,000 children are at risk of sexual exploitation. A city of Seattle study said that 300 to 500 juveniles were involved with prostitution in 2008.
In the Yakima Valley, advocates suspect juvenile prostitution stems from gangs.
Gundersen will also highlight the Zonta Club of Yakima Valley's foray into community awareness and legislative advocacy, said Danielle Surkatty, club president.
The Yakima club has mostly raised funds for other women's organizations and scholarships through an annual murder mystery dinner.
Zonta has invited youth groups, pastors, prosecutors, social workers, school counselors and others to Gundersen's talk.
"If it's not on their radar, we want it to be on their radar," Surkatty said. "Not here. Not our kids."
If you go
* What: Presentation about human trafficking
* Who: Rose Gundersen, co-founder of Washington Engage
* When: 6 p.m. Friday
* Where: St. Timothy Episcopal Church, 4105 Richey Road, Yakima
* Admission: Free
* Sponsored by: The Zonta Club of Yakima Valley
* Ross Courtney can be reached at 509-930-8798 or rcourtney@yakimaherald.com.
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