The United States Senate unanimously voted 95 to 0 for legislation to protect women from trafficking and domestic violence.

The Bill, HR 3244, makes it a crime to bring women and children into the US illegally and force them into conditions of slavery such as debt bondage, the sex industry and sweatshop labour.

Once signed into law by President Bill Clinton, traffickers will face prison sentences of up to life. US$95 million will be spent over two years to implement changes that will support and protect victims of trafficking. These include changing immigration laws in order to allow special US visas for victims who want to sue their captors and to provide them with shelter and assistance.

This addresses several aspects which are key to the fight against trafficking. It introduces a penalty against traffickers which suits the seriousness of the crime and serves as a deterrent, and the Bill will enable victims to serve as witnesses in trials. Because many of the victims of trafficking do not have correct visas, or may not even have passports, up to now they have been quickly deported preventing them from testifying against traffickers.

Co-sponsored by Republican Senators Sam Brownback and Paul Wellstone, the Bill was passed by the House of Representatives last week.

According to a US Government report published in April 2000, between 45,000 and 50,000 women are trafficked into the US each year.