UPDATE: Monday, July 19, 2010 at 5:45 p.m.
The Council passed legislation today that regulates the display of human bodies like those shown in Bodies: The Exhibition. The vote was 9-0.
I've written many times about human trafficking, modern-day slavery, and the highly coercive commercial sex industry, including the reality of these practices here in Seattle. On Monday, the City Council will take another small step against human trafficking with passage of legislation advanced by my colleague, Nick Licata, that will prohibit the commercial display of human remains without documented authorization from the deceased. I am a co-sponsor of Licata's legislation.
Nicholas Kristof writes about these issues in today's Seattle Times. As Kristof points out, small steps can have a big impact. The Washington legislature passed legislation introduced by Representative Mary Lou Dickerson earlier this year that recognizes that juveniles engaged in prostitution are victims, not criminal suspects, a policy that is consistent with federal law and United Nations recommended practice.
The City Council has passed various ordinances over the past 18 months that increase penalties for so-called "johns" engaged in prostitution, including new authority for police to impound vehicles used by "johns." Court fines and fees have also been significantly increased. These steps reflect a policy shift that increasingly focuses on "pimps" and "johns."
And, the city has established only the fourth-in-the-country residential treatment center for young women involved in street prostitution. The first three residents have started their journey toward recovery and productive lives.
These issues are not easy, nor are they likely to be the topic of choice at tonight's dinner party. But they demand our continued attention. Small steps matter.