Nine states are working on laws this year to ensure that the definition of child abuse includes the crime of child sex trafficking. You can take action to support these bills! See the list of those 9 states below. Why does this definition matter? As a nation, comprised of both federal and autonomously-acting state law, […]
Why does it matter?
Wrestling with the intersectionality of language and response As lawyers and activists, Shared Hope’s Policy Team is frequently fielding the question, “Why does it matter?” “Why does it matter what language we use?” “Why does it matter who responds to the plight of a trafficked child?” “Why does this specific law matter?” These questions are […]
Buyers of Sex with Children are Trafficking Offenders
On January 27th, Shared Hope launched the Stop the InJuSTice campaign to advocate for state laws that prioritize victim protection and buyer accountability. Since the Protected Innocence Challenge (PIC) commenced in 2011, state action on domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) has increased exponentially. Shared Hope has worked with over half of the U.S. states to […]
NEW CAMPAIGN to PAVE PATHS towards JUSTICE
Following six years of examining best practices, supporting states in enacting strong child sex trafficking laws, and engaging with legislators, survivors, concerned citizens, and professionals, we have found ourselves at the crossroads of “what gaps remain?” and “how do we fill them?”. The last six years have encompassed enormous progress in the way states are […]
California Recognizes Kids are Victims, Not Criminals
New law in line with national movement to protect juvenile sex trafficking victims California’s SB 1322 went into effect on January 1. This bill not only sparked a fiery discussion centered on one op-ed, it also led Assemblyman Travis Allen to introduce AB 1402 for purposes of repealing SB 1322. Contrary to sensational statements that SB […]
