Ohio Proposal Would Bolster Human Trafficking Law

An Ohio lawmaker is pursuing changes to a new state law that she says will help reduce the demand behind human trafficking. Victims of human trafficking often are prostituted or pushed to work against their will in sweatshop-type jobs. Some are girls as young as 11. State Rep. Teresa Fedor, a Toledo Democrat, said Monday she expects to introduce the legislation in the coming days to toughen the penalties for those who purchase commercial sex of a minor. Solicitors would also be required to register as a sex offender. Among other changes, her proposal would increase the statute of limitations for human trafficking from six years to 20. It would ban people from knowingly purchasing advertising space for sexual activity for hire that includes a depiction of a minor.