Human trafficking victim takes message to state Capitol

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By Keith Eldridge

Summary

Rani Hong says there are 27 million slaves worldwide and more than 15,000 in the United States. And she wants local lawmakers to pass a law that would protect the identity of past victims.

Story Published: Jan 15, 2008 at 6:30 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jul 26, 2010 at 1:57 PM PDT

Human trafficking victim takes message to state Capitol
OLYMPIA -- A victim of human trafficking says there are victims all around us, and we're just not seeing them.

Rani Hong is taking her alarming message to the state Capitol.

A video just released Tuesday shows the severity of the problem.

"I was forced to do prostitution, do labor, forced to take care of the men that would buy me," one victim said on the video.

Rani took a video to the state Legislature Tuesday because the victims themselves are afraid to come out of hiding to talk with the lawmakers.

Rani is well suited to carry the message since she, too, is a victim of human trafficking.

"I was kidnapped from my mom and then sold to my broker who got the ownership of me," she said.

Rani has been down this road before, testifying at the state Capitol Building over the years, going back to the U.S. Congress, and even appearing on Oprah Winfrey. But despite her best efforts this problem is growing.

Rani says there are 27 million slaves worldwide and more than 15,000 in the United States.

"Many times they are physically abused, sexually abused, mentally abused," Rani said. "I mean, this is what they're living with and that's why we need to provide safety for them."

Roni's non-profit Tronie Foundation is reaching out to victims, building a safe shelter for them in this region and making sure this isn't kept secret.

"I wouldn't call this a dirty little secret," said Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle). "I'd call this an enormous secret that is coming to light. And I think the American public is somewhat naive saying 'something like this can't be happening here in the United States.' "

Rani is testifying in favor of Sen. Kohl-Welles' bill (Senate Bill 6339) to keep the addresses and phone numbers of human trafficking victims off of the public roles.

"In order for them to start a new life, they have to have protection," Rani said. "The first step to their protection is to protect where they're living. If their address was given out then they could be re-victimized and have to go through all of the trauma again that they just survived."

Republican Sen. Dan Secker is one of the sponsors of the bill.

"There's nothing partisan about it," he said. "It's a human rights issue and it's important."

For More Information:

www.troniefoundation.org

www.leg.wa.gov