Shared Hope International

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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 craft, enact, and strengthen bills that address state-specific recommendations made in the Protected Innocence Challenge (PIC) Analysis and Recommendation Reports. The result has been an unceasing increase in state grades, and most importantly, a national trend towards more comprehensive and protective responses for child victims of sex trafficking.

While many states have committed to tackling some of the more nuanced areas of DMST, nationally, we need to reaffirm our vow to addressing the complexities of this violence. 44 states and D.C. have child sex trafficking laws that differentiate between the sex trafficking of adults and children, and have shifted the evidentiary burden accordingly. However, of those 44 states and D.C., only 11 states have included language within their core sex trafficking law that specifically applies to buyers of sex with children.  This gap conflicts with the reality of DMST— buyers play a fundamental role in the crime of sex trafficking—without buyers there would be no victims. Failing to recognize the equal role buyers play in creating a marketplace that survives on the sexual abuse, violence, and commercial exploitation of children, also limits which children can be identified as victims of sex trafficking. This limitation directly impacts which children can receive the protection, services, and access to justice that is specifically provided for victims of sex trafficking.

[easy-tweet tweet=”As a nation we need to reaffirm our vow to addressing the complexities of this violence.” hashtags=”StoptheinJuSTice, PIC” url=”http://bit.ly/2kGNljL”]

We are thrilled to announce that, through the Stop the InJuSTice campaign, Shared Hope is currently supporting five states that have introduced legislation this session that, if enacted, would include buyer conduct in the law as a core human trafficking offense:

  • Colorado HB 1072 (Sponsor: Representative Lawrence)
  • Connecticut HB 6632 (Sponsor: Representative Kokoruda)
  • Georgia HB 341 (Sponsor: Representative Reeves)
  • Nebraska LB 289 (Sponsor: Senator Pansing Brooks)
  • Oklahoma HB 1832 (Sponsor: Representative Osborn)

[easy-tweet tweet=”Shared Hope is currently supporting bills in 5 states that would clarify that buyers are trafficking offenders.” url=”http://bit.ly/2kGNljL “]

We need your help to ensure these bills pass!  You can support these bills, and many more, at our Stop the InJuSTice campaign site. Simply go to the site, find your state on our interactive action map, and take one of these actions:

  1. Call your legislator with our call script.
  2. Share our social media posts about your state legislation.

Together we can ensure that buyers of sex with children are culpable offenders under your state’s human trafficking offense!

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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 legislatively addressing the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC)–– in six years, state grades under the Protected Innocence Challenge rose from 26 “F” states in 2011, to zero “F” states and 30 “A” and “B” states in 2016. Following six years of legislative advocacy and providing technical support to legislators, almost half of U.S. states and D.C. now recognize children engaged in commercial sex as victims in need of services, rather than criminals or delinquent youth. This is enormous progress and we will continue celebrating these achievements from the highest of mountain tops!

However, the last six years have not eradicated domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST). Until every child in the U.S. is insulated from this horrendous crime, we will continue marching towards justice and protection. While federal law clearly applies to the conduct of buyers, only 11 states expressly recognize buyers of sex with children as perpetrators of sex trafficking. More than 50% of states deem children engaged in commercial sex as delinquents deserving of punishments, rather than victims worthy of justice. And while 19 states and DC do not criminalize minors for prostitution, only 7 of those states and D.C. have created statutory pathways to specialized services for all identified child victims; over 75% of states, therefore, do not have a non punitive avenue under their law to provide the specialized services necessary for a child victim to obtain holistic care and opportunities for healing, empowerment, and a childhood.

Recognizing the substantial work ahead, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our 2017 campaign to fill these gaps: Stop the InJuSTice. This campaign seeks to mobilize lawmakers, citizens, and community organizations to pave pathways for holding buyers accountable and ensuring that all child victims are afforded a protective response. But we need your help! In the next six months, we are asking citizens and legislators to increase their engagement and commitment to ensuring that these gaps do not exist in 2018. In return, Shared Hope commits to supporting at least six states in enacting legislation that specifically addresses these glaring gaps.

Here are 6 ways you as a citizen can take action!

  1. Help us get the word out and share our campaign images on social media
  2. Read your State’s 2016 Report Card
  3. Call your legislators and ask them to protect and prioritize child victims of sex trafficking, and support bills that aim to hold buyers accountable and ensure victim-centered responses to children.
  4. Share our tweets with your legislators, friends and family to spread the word.
  5. Become an Ambassador of Hope
  6. Donate to Shared Hope International to ensure we can continue our fight for justice.

Legislators: Commit to engaging with Shared Hope’s policy team to identify gaps in your state’s laws and craft legislation to fill these holes.  Email us to request a consultation with a member of our policy team.

Ambassadors of Hope: Participate in a training created specifically for you! Our communications manager and policy team have put together a training and toolkit to equip our Ambassadors with the background, knowledge, and confidence to advocate for the bills that Shared Hope is supporting. From learning how to most effectively share our materials, to navigating our Legislative Action Center site, we are striving to ensure that all of our Ambassadors have the support they need to be champions in their communities.

 

Please join Shared Hope in ensuring that 2017 is the year that we Stop the InJuSTICE! We look forward to working with you to create a safer, more just world for our children.

[easy-tweet tweet=”Join Shared Hope in ensuring that 2017 is the year that we Stop the InJuSTICE!” user=”SharedHope” hashtags=”StoptheinJuSTice” url=”http://bit.ly/2kuAmmv”]

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Backpage.com Shuts Down “Adult” Section as Victims Pursue Justice

Overnight, Backpage.com announced the shutdown of its “adult services” section of the classifieds website.  This announcement came on the eve of Backpage.com’s executives and general counsel appearing at a hearing today before the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) to answer questions about the committee’s report stating that Backpage.com knowingly posted advertisements for the sale of sex trafficked children.  Citing statistics from Shared Hope International and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that help demonstrate the scope of child sex trafficking occurring online, Senator Portman explained that the PSI report released this week provides substantial evidence that Backpage.com not only allowed advertisements for sex with children to be posted, but that the company employed “editing practices” that sanitized those advertisements and hid the sex trafficking of children from public view, and potentially from law enforcement.

When Backpage.com executives appeared on Capitol Hill this morning to testify before the subcommittee about the company’s participation in facilitating online sex trafficking, they declined to answer questions, asserting protections under the First and Fifth Amendments.  While Backpage.com executives refused to testify, families of trafficking survivors testified and shared the stories of their collective 14 years fighting for their children who were trafficked on Backpage.com. Holding back tears, the parents of child sex trafficking survivors testified about the harm done to their children in an effort to help protect other children being exploited online through websites like Backpage.com. Senator McCaskill stated at today’s hearing, “We now know as a result of our legal battle that they did not turn away ads of children…they just tried to sanitize it…That is the definition of evil.”

Linda Smith, Shared Hope International President and Founder said after attending the hearing, “I was moved by the heartbreaking stories of these families who suffered immense pain as a result of their children being sold on Backpage.com.  Their stories make it clear, even though we celebrate the closure of Backpage.com’s adult section, we can’t stop fighting until victims get the legal justice they deserve and Backpage.com can no longer hide behind the Communications Decency Act.”

Today’s events come on the heels of Monday’s US Supreme Court denial of review of victims’ claims in Does v. Backpage.com, and as Backpage.com executives turn their focus to tomorrow’s arraignment on new criminal charges in California.

Shared Hope International has been on the front lines advocating for laws to combat the widespread sex trafficking of children online, particularly through classified sites like Backpage.com.  There are many fronts to this battle and Shared Hope remains committed to the victims’ pursuit of justice, as well as preventing further exploitation of children by establishing civil and criminal liability for these crimes.

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National Foundation of Women Legislators Passes Resolution on Child Sex Trafficking

nfwlToday at the annual conference for the National Foundation of Women Legislators the members passed an important resolution on child sex trafficking. Shared Hope International has worked with NFWL to craft a resolution that addresses the key issues currently confronting legislators responding to child sex trafficking victims.

You can read the whole resolution below.

Resolution regarding the critical importance of improving protections for child sex trafficking victims.

WHEREAS child sex trafficking is a form of modern slavery that exploits some of the most vulnerable members of society;

WHEREAS online exploitation has exponentially expanded the market for child victims who are bought and sold through online classified websites and other online venues developed around the commercial sex market;

WHEREAS child sex trafficking victims suffer serious trauma resulting from commercial sexual exploitation, regardless of whether they have an identified trafficker;

WHEREAS buyers of sex with children are central perpetrators in the crime of sex trafficking and failure to address the conduct of buyers as a crime of sex trafficking creates barriers to critical protections, services and resources for child victims;

WHEREAS children, who cannot consent to engage in commercial sex, must not be criminalized for commercial sexual conduct that is inherent to their victimization;

WHEREAS children who are exploited through commercial sex are victims of sex trafficking in need of specialized, trauma-informed services in lieu of being arrested and detained for their own victimization; and

WHEREAS strong state laws are critical to preventing children from becoming victims of sex trafficking and for protecting those children who have been exploited; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that members of the National Foundation of Women Legislators—

(1) strongly condemn the crime of child sex trafficking;

(2) recognize the need for states to develop mandatory response laws on behalf of child sex trafficking victims that ensure access to services and resources for recovery;

(3) call on every state to set a clear goal and plan for eliminating criminalization of minors for commercial sexual conduct and other conduct that is a result of their trafficking victimization; and

(4) urge every state to statutorily recognize all commercially sexually exploited children as child sex trafficking victims and align the state sex trafficking law with the reality that children are exploited by both traffickers and buyers by ensuring both types of offenders are acknowledged as perpetrators under the state’s core sex trafficking law.

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What Could I Do to Make a Difference?

A Guest Post from Shannon in Virginia.

When I became an Ambassador of Hope, I was passionate about spreading awareness of trafficking in my native state of West Virginia. Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by rich natural and cultural resources, it is easy to feel you are far away from the rest of the world. Unfortunately, West Virginia struggles with real world problems, such as severe poverty, drug use and unemployment. I grew up knowing the state I loved lagged behind others in economic growth and the health of its citizens. As I became involved in combatting sex trafficking, it broke my heart to find out that West Virginia also lagged behind in its laws to protect victims and bring justice to the people who exploit them.

2As I began encouraging citizens and legislators to ask for stronger laws to protect their children, I have been honored to work with advocates and everyday citizens to educate West Virginians about the topic and ways that they can take action. In a recent visit, I spoke to a roller derby group about warning signs of trafficking while they are on the road traveling to competitions, worked with a women’s organization to hold a community screening of our prevention film Chosen, and was a guest on a radio show to talk about how West Virginia can strengthen its laws.

I was especially humbled to speak to a group of law enforcement officers, child and victim advocates in my hometown. These men and women are on the front lines of the issue and work hard to protect vulnerable populations from people who hurt them. It was exciting to meet the West Virginia State Police corporal (pictured here on the right) that had successfully worked a case I often use to illustrate that trafficking does not have to involve money, but that it can be anything of value exchanged for sexual acts. In this case, a man solicited elementary-age victims over the Internet and lured them with Ugg boots and cigarettes.  The perpetrator received a long prison sentence and will be unable to harm other children in the community. Read the story here.

Though West Virginia struggles with issues that make it vulnerable to trafficking, it has heroes like this officer, concerned citizens and legislators that continue to sponsor and push for stronger laws against trafficking. They all recognize that there is a need for awareness and are constantly working to ensure West Virginia lives up to its state motto, “Mountaineers Are Always Free.” I am happy to do my small part.

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