MEDIA INQUIRES CONTACT:
Renee Young, National Public Relations
ryoung@hadassah.org
(212) 303- 8140
4/23/2015
NEW YORK – On April 22, the Senate unanimously passed The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. Marcie Natan, President of Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc., released the following statement:
On behalf of Hadassah’s 330,000 members, associates and supporters, I applaud the Senate’s passage of this crucial legislation, which will increase penalties for traffickers and expand funding for law enforcement training programs and critical victims’ services.
Hadassah's members have tirelessly worked to educate and inform their communities and policymakers about the issue of human trafficking through symposiums, coalitions, and advocacy opportunities. In January we joined with the National Council of Jewish Women to raise a collective Jewish and women’s voice during Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
We commend the Senate on reaching this bipartisan agreement that enabled this legislation to move forward, ensuring federal reproductive health restrictions are not expanded at the expense of women and girls who need our assistance the most.
Tragically, slavery remains a modern-day reality for an estimated 27 million people worldwide and its related crimes not only harm the women involved but undermine the social, political and economic fabric of the nations where they occur. The Senate’s passage of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking act is an important step in addressing the epidemic of human trafficking and we urge Congress to continue this momentum.
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Hadassah is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. With 330,000 members, associates and supporters across the country, Hadassah brings Jewish women together to effect change and advocate on criticalissues such as medical care and research, women's empowerment, and the security of Israel. Through the Hadassah Medical Organization's (HMO) two hospitals, the world-renowned trauma center and the leading research facility in Jerusalem, Hadassah supports the delivery of exemplary patient care to over a million people every year. HMO serves without regard to race, religion or nationality and earned a Nobel Peace Prize Nomination in 2005 for building “bridges to peace” through equality in medical treatment. For more information, visit my.hadassah.org.
