Help us advocate in the 24 remaining states and finish strong!
On January 20th, the Center for Law and Policy launched “Stop the inJuSTice Campaign” to mobilize state legislatures to pass laws that holder buyers accountable and increase victim protections. We set an initial goal of supporting the passage of 6 bills in 6 months.
We are thrilled to report that in just 3 months, we have reached and surpassed our goal! Since the launch of Stop the inJuSTice, 11 states have enacted laws that further the policy objectives of this campaign.
- Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Maryland and New York now have laws acknowledging child sex trafficking as a form of child abuse for purposes of permitting child welfare intervention and care.
- Indiana now recognizes children engaged in commercial sex as victims, not criminals, and prohibits minors from facing criminal liability under the prostitution statute.
- Oklahoma and Washington prohibit buyers of sex with children from raising a mistake of age defense.
- South Dakota no longer requires the use of force, fraud, or coercion to traffic a child.
- Utah requires child sex trafficking perpetrators, including buyers, to register as sex offenders.
- West Virginia passed a comprehensive anti-trafficking bill which prohibits commercially sexually exploited minors from being prosecuted for prostitution offenses, acknowledges the occurrence of sex trafficking regardless of the number of victims involved, increases accountability for buyers of sex with children, and permits sex trafficking victims to seek restitution from their offenders.
- Washington: permits child sex trafficking victims to vacate juvenile records obtained as a result of the trafficking victimization.
We celebrate these state’s monumental accomplishments on behalf of children. However, our work is not finished. Shared Hope’s Policy Team is actively supporting Campaign bills in 24 other states. With your help, we can ensure that children in these states receive the protections and justice that they deserve.
Please join us in advocating for the passage of the following bills which remove criminal liability for child sex trafficking victims:
- Louisiana: Senate Bill 54
- Maine: Legislative Draft 512
- Massachusetts: House Bill 3499
- Missouri: Senate Bill 341
- Pennsylvania: House Bill 525
- Rhode Island: House Bill 5857
- Wisconsin: Assembly Bill 186
Your support makes this campaign possible. Together we are creating a safer, more just world for our children. Thank you!
