Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) - Human Trafficking Task Force Report ( pizzagate )

submitted by argosciv

Links determined from the recently removed image-link post.

Subject matter being the link between human trafficking(sex slavery, etc) exploiting the massage[ therapy] industry.

Extensive report linked at bottom of post.

[ https://www.massagemag.com/massage-associations-human-trafficking-report-off-base-87539/ | http://archive.fo/c0gkG ]:

Massage Associations Claim Human Trafficking Report is “Off Base”

November 29, 2017 | Karen Menehan

A report that details human trafficking within the massage industry is misguided and off base, according to two national massage associations.

However, the director of the organization that charged a task force with creating the report stands by it.

The Human Trafficking Task Force Report, released about a month ago by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) claims that between 6,500 and 9,000 illicit businesses use massage or another type of bodywork as a front for prostitution in the U.S. and that such businesses create a threat for all massage therapists.

The FSMTB is the membership organization for U.S. state boards of massage therapy. It provides the massage exam, the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) used by states to license massage therapists.

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) released a joint statement, provided to MASSAGE Magazine by AMTA, that critiques the content and purpose of the report and demands that any implied support by either massage association of the report’s findings be removed from it.

Inappropriate Burden?

The human trafficking report notes several areas within FSMTB’s purview that could help fight human trafficking, including: increasing awareness of human trafficking; exploring the concept of one national massage-school accrediting authority; and amending its Model Practice Act to include a representative with a background in human trafficking to member boards. Additional areas are mentioned in the report.

According to the massage associations’ joint statement, there are recommendations made in the report that, if implemented, “would inappropriately burden the practice of massage therapy.”

Additionally, the associations stated that both human trafficking and prostitution operate outside the massage field, not within it. (The full statement is shown below.)~

[https://www.massagemag.com/fsmtb-releases-report-human-trafficking-87448/ | @ web.archive.org ]:

Breaking News: FSMTB Releases Report on How Human Trafficking Impacts the Massage Field

November 8, 2017 | Karen Menehan

Humans forcing humans into servitude and slavery is a practice dating back to the earliest records of civilization, but the growth of modern human trafficking—the coordinated, large-scale transportation of people who are forced into servitude, including prostitution—over the past two decades means the problem for the massage field has deepened.

In response to this problem, the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) has just released the Human Trafficking Task Force Report, which details the connection between human trafficking and massage therapy and provides ideas for combating the scourge of trafficking.

The FSMTB is the membership organization for U.S. state boards of massage therapy. It provides the massage exam, the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) used by states to license massage therapists.

The report itself; 47 page pdf:

[ http://archive.is/KV26K ]

Happy to self delete if determined not relevant.

cc: @Vindicator

argosciv

I'm just going to self-delete this, @Vindicator , seeing as how it's still flaired even though a clear relevance to abuse/exploitation of children has been included.

I kept the draft, though, so may repost to v/pizzagatewhatever

Vindicator

Well, I just came to remove the flair; so you can repost to v/pizzagate emphasizing the link to kids if you want to.

argosciv

Neh, go ahead and check your inbox

Factfinder2

Did they look into LiddleKidz massage, I wonder?

https://steemit.com/pizzagate/ @newtreehints/massage-for-children-the-liddle-kidz-foundation-and-house-representative-liddle-adam-schiff-of-california

Vindicator

Please explain the link to child sexual abuse (how this complies with Rule 1). Thanks. Giving this the edit flair.

sore_ass_losers

@argosciv

Often the sex workers are trafficked and sometimes they are also underage. The authorities seem to tolerate or protect this.

Because of prostitution under the aegis of massage, laws are in place in most states that massage therapists must be licensed. Massage parlors, especially Asian Massage Parlors (AMPs) have proliferated in recent years across the US. Authorities claim it's hard to bust this sort of prostitution, but they already have a mechanism they could use.

Here's a 2011 LA Times editorial that describes some particulars for California: 'The [2009] law swept aside local regulation of therapists in favor of uniform state certification, but it allowed cities to demand that massage businesses show their state credentials. Other cities in the region required businesses to do just that, but in Los Angeles, officials merely asked the businesses if they were state certified. Presumably, many that had no state approval said "yes" because they didn't have to show any proof.'

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/mar/24/opinion/la-ed-massage-20110324

'In other cities, officials are cracking down on the exploitation of women, many of them underage, whose illegal immigrant status makes them virtual slaves in the sex industry. ,,,massage parlors have arguably made northeast Los Angeles the region's prostitution capital.'

Actually there's been a growth in massage parlors and AMPs across the US since this editorial and officials aren't cracking down on the trafficking. It seems they are here to stay.

It's very strange that Massage Magazine, the leading publication for the industry would say no problem exists.

I can't seem to find it, but there was a discussion here on voat, I think in this subverse, that the strange 'emoji' type symbols used in massage parlor ads on Craigs List and BackPage (these ads now gone) sometimes indicated the prostitutes were underage. They often talked about "young girls" and so on.

argosciv

It's very strange that Massage Magazine, the leading publication for the industry would say no problem exists.

See "Update" under "Edited to include:" for possible explanation/links relating to Massage Magazine, Liddle Kidz and Adam Schiff.

@Factfinder2 , I had to remove your link to make room for the update, but, it does include relevant mention of Adam Schiff, with information not yet presented in the steemit submission you shared.

Also included is a link between Massage Magazine, Massage Warehouse Sanctuary, Scrip Companies and Hill-Rom; The Catholic Hospital Association.

cc: @Vindicator

argosciv

It's very strange that Massage Magazine, the leading publication for the industry would say no problem exists.

I think I may have something on that... It's not going to be easy to fit into the main post, though.

cc: @Vindicator

argosciv

Thanks.

I'll check in on the comments after a little while and add the supporting material from yourself and others. Gonna take a short break from the screen so I don't let the brigading against me get on my nerves.

Vindicator

Thanks SAL

argosciv

Typos/errors fixed, see "Edited to add:" section.

Vindicator

Please add the LA Times quote and link to minors provided by SoraAssLosers. Thanks.

argosciv

Reference errors also fixed.

argosciv

Done.

Added article from @sore_ass_losers and steemit link from @Factfinder2 .

argosciv

Edited to include:

[1]:

According to the U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons 2014 Report: Country Narratives, human traffickers bring people—including children, adults, women and men—into and through the U.S. for forced labor, including prostitution and domestic servitude. Some people are taken out of the U.S. for such purposes as well.

"Trafficking can occur in both legal and illicit industries or markets, including in brothels, escort services, massage parlors, strip clubs, street prostitution, hotel services, hospitality, sales crews, agriculture, manufacturing, janitorial services, construction, health and elder care, and domestic service," the Trafficking in Persons report noted.

[4. [1: "U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons 2014 Report: Country Narratives" | https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2014/index.htm | via web.archive.org ]]:

Links in quote are also via web.archive.org.

The 2014 Trafficking in Persons Report is available in PDF and HTML formats. Due to its large size, the PDF has been separated into sections for easier download. To view the PDF file, you will need to download, at no cost, the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

~

HTML Format

Letter from Secretary Kerry

Letter from Ambassador Luis CdeBaca

The Journey from Victim to Survivor

Definitions and Methodology

Victims' Stories

Topics of Special Interest

Global Law Enforcement Data

2014 TIP Report Heroes

Tier Placements

Country Narratives

Special Case

Countries That Are Not States Parties to the Protocol

Relevant International Conventions

Trafficking Victims Protection Act: Minimum Standards for the Elimination of Trafficking in Persons

Stopping Human Trafficking, Sexual Exploitation, and Abuse by International Peacekeepers & Civilian Personnel

International, Regional, and Sub-Regional Organizations Combating Trafficking in Persons

Glossary of Acronyms

A Closing Note

The quote regarding the TIP report mention of massage parlors, found in reference 3, refers to the Bolivia sub-section of the "Country Narratives' section in the TIP report[4].

[5. [4: Country Narratives - United States: via web.archive.org ]]:

The United States is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children—both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals—subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor, including domestic servitude. Trafficking can occur in both legal and illicit industries or markets, including in brothels, escort services, massage parlors, strip clubs, street prostitution, hotel services, hospitality, sales crews, agriculture, manufacturing, janitorial services, construction, health and elder care, and domestic service.

argosciv

No worries, I'll have a look and see if the report has a specific mention of it.

Might not be directly relevant though, hence happy to self delete.