Human trafficking is a grim reality in Iowa.
In 2023 alone, the Iowa National Human Trafficking Hotline received 200 calls and helped 68 victims. Additionally, the Iowa Victim Service Call Center received 301 calls, 33 of which involved minors. These reported incidents are just the tip of the iceberg, accounting for less than half a percent of all trafficking cases. Extrapolating numbers from the US State Department suggests that more than 100,000 Iowans are victims of human trafficking. This number should alarm us all. Change is long overdue, and we desperately need our elected officials to take action.
Over a decade ago, Iowa had no system in place to help victims of human trafficking. But because Iowans care, communities came together to address the issue. We built an infrastructure to support trafficking victims, whether they are exploited for sex or for labor. Many victims are children, forced into these situations to survive, exploited for sex or work in exchange for necessities like food, shelter, or safety. Trapped in a cycle of dependency on their traffickers, these minors often have nowhere to turn.
Today, eight organizations across Iowa provide residential programs dedicated to meeting the unique needs of trafficking survivors. However, these nonprofit organizations are severely underfunded, constantly struggling to stay afloat. Their essential work is hampered by a lack of resources.
To make matters worse, Iowa received an "F" from Shared Hope International , an organization committed to ending human trafficking, for our prevention and protection efforts. In a state known for its strong sense of community, it is unacceptable that we are failing to prevent trafficking, offer victims a way out, and provide the necessary services for recovery.
As an advocate for human trafficking victims for nearly two decades, I am deeply saddened that my beloved state has fallen behind. The private sector has developed a supportive infrastructure, and we need policymakers to help sustain these vital programs with adequate funding in the public sector. In my role as co-founder of Chains Interrupted , a nonprofit dedicated to combating and preventing human trafficking, I regularly engage with lawmakers and fellow advocates. We all agree “action is needed,” but the necessary policies and funding have yet to materialize. Many other states in our nation have acted and Iowa is now sadly standing out for lacking several crucial policies.
From 2021: Report: Most states, including Iowa, treat young people ensnared by sex trafficking as criminals rather than victims
Our state is in a prime position to act. The human trafficking prevention community has come together to propose the following recommendations for the 2025 legislative session:
- Establish a Human Trafficking Survivor Services Fund: Allocate $1 million to ensure services are available statewide to provide the financial stability needed to guarantee survivors have access to safe spaces and reintegration services.
- Create an ongoing taskforce to develop legislative recommendations to strengthen anti-human-trafficking efforts.
- Extend the civil statute of limitations for sexual abuse or trafficking of a minor to five years after the victim reaches the age of 18.
- Close the loopholes in Iowa Code (710A and 725.1) that do not protect children adequately in the commercial sexual exploitation of children, or CSEC.
- Require the Department of Health and Human Services to screen all minors entering the system for human trafficking (CSEC) while increasing the availability of restoration facilities and protective services for juvenile trafficking victims.
- Require juvenile justice agencies to screen all minors entering the system for human trafficking (CSEC).
Human trafficking is continuing to grow at an alarming pace. I implore the Iowa Legislature to take meaningful action this session that will truly impact Iowa. For more information, contact the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery at www.iowanaht.org .
Together, we can end the suffering of human trafficking victims in Iowa.
Teresa Davidson is co-founded and CEO of Chains Interrupted and a board member of Network Against Human Trafficking. Contact: Teresa@ChainsInterrupted.com .
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Opinion: Iowa needs to do more to combat human trafficking
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