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November 10, 2014 by Guest

What is fueling the demand for child sex trafficking?

For most people it’s hard to imagine that grown men are having sexual contact with, paying for, and raping children. Yet this is happening with such frequency that this crime, human trafficking, is the now the fastest growing crime in the world. (Harris, K. 2012). What is causing grown men to abuse children in this way? There are several factors that ignite this crime, but two triggers are directly linked to the purchase of sex with minors. Research shows that often these men were themselves molested in childhood and perpetuate the cycle of abuse once they become adults. There is also evidence that links the consumption of pornography to child sex trafficking. Media often blames criminals, police blame parents, parents blame schools, and so it goes. The question is: what is driving the demand for sex with children and can we stop it?

One school of thought evaluating the origins of exploitive behavior is premised upon the idea that molesters were themselves molested. There is strong evidence supporting a connection between experiencing childhood abuse and later becoming a child molester. Often in association with a lack of control over their own childhood, these once victims grow up and seek out means to steal the innocence of other children in order to gain some type of control over what was stolen from them; the abused becomes the predator. (Hooper, J. 2014). Studies indicate the likelihood that a molested child will grow up to molest others is greater than 50 percent. (Abel, G. and Harlow, G. 2002). Studies further indicate that these recidivist behaviors mean that men will continue to desire children for sex, and in more than 90 percent of child rapes, the offender knew the child. (Gado, M. 2013).

The second trigger is the link between pornography and sex with children. Researchers discovered that the human brain demonstrates the exact same chemical response when taking drugs as it does when consuming pornography. (Hilton, D.L. and Watts, C. 2011). The same chemical mediators are released that cause the body to react in a similar way and even become addicted in the same way. (Doidge, N. 2007). Just like with drugs, there are some consumers who can become addicted to pornography after their first viewing while others appear to never become addicted. (Yuan, K., and Tian, J., 2011). Similar to substance addiction, addiction to pornography consumption may begin after the first encounter or can occur over a period of repeated exposure, and not without consequences.

There is often a common denominator between buying sex with children and consuming child pornography. News coverage about child pornography being found on people’s personal computers who were arrested for sex offenses against children is common, and research shows that in 80 percent of child sexual abuse arrests, the offender also possessed child pornography. (Peters, R., Lederer, L., and Kelly, S., 2014). Viewing child pornography causes a physical response in the brain that releases chemical mediators which can lead to addiction and subsequently acting on those addictions with real children. The similarities to drug use and pornography are serious cause for concern. Just as a drug addict must constantly increase the dosage to get the same high, consumer of pornography often needs to increase the deviancy of the pornography. Consumption of pornography increases with this level of addiction and can lead to fetish pornography, including child pornography. (Paul, P. 2007). This extreme level of consumption can then lead to the most deviant form of pornography—violent sexual acts against children.

Child pornography is the most violent type of pornography because it involves forcing a child to be sexually violated. Often, many who consume violent child pornography then act on these fantasies involving real children. Sadly, not many men think about the risk associated with watching pornography and its destructive consequences to children, and predicting who will become addicted and where that addiction will lead is difficult to forecast. (Angres, D. H. and Bettinardi-Angres, K., 2008). Children are being raped by men who want to act out on fantasies developed through consumption of child pornography. The direct link between child pornography and raping children begs the question: what are we doing to stop child pornography from being consumed and fueling child sex trafficking? Society must recognize that child pornography has lasting harmful consequences both for the children being filmed and the all too real possibility of predators then finding and victimizing other children.

How can you or I make a difference and prevent this from happening? You are reading this blog because you can make a difference. You can share what you have learned and make a decision to be part of the solution. There are many ways for you to get involved. Check with your state to find local coalitions in the fight against child sex trafficking. These coalitions offer many options for people to get involved. For instance, neighborhood watches monitor parks, playgrounds, and bus stops for potential predators. You can also refer others to this website so they too can be educated. Clearly it is important to share with others that there are risks involved with watching pornography and why these risks exist. You can also make a difference by educating your family and friends. You can be a voice for the children who need someone to stand up for them and protect them.

Lastly, there are resources available for those who have been molested or have watched pornography. If you think you need help to recover from what you’ve experienced, then it is time to take control of your life and be restored. There are people out there who care about you and want to see you healthy. Sometimes in life it is not a matter of what you’ve been through, but really about how you handle it. By making the decision to stop the cycle of abuse or addiction, your life can have new purpose. You can get help and then be a help to others. The cycle of addiction does not have to continue. With your decision to get help, you can make all the difference and your life can save a life. We need everyone to fight this crime and children are depending on us to protect them.

A List of References for those who are addicted to pornography:

Fortify: A Step Toward Recovery

feedtherightwolf.com

sexualrecovery.com

uncommonhelp.me

sexualcontrol.com

centerforhealthysexuality.com

focusonthefamily.com

purelife.Com

recoveryconnection.org

netsafe.org

quora.com

References

Abel, G., & Harlow, N. (2002, April 1). Molestation Prevention Study. Retrieved September 9, 2014, from http://www.childmolestationprevention.org/pdfs/study.pdf

Angres, D. H. and Bettinardi-Angres, K. (2008). The Disease of Addiction: Origins, Treatment, and Recovery. Disease-a-Month 54: 696–721. https://www.reshealth.org/pdfs/subsites/addiction/the_disease_of_addiction.pdf

Doidge, N. (2007). The Brain That Changes Itself. New York: Penguin Books http://www.karenpapemd.com/index.php/the-brain-that-changes-itself-science-by-norman-doidge-md-new-york-penguin-group-2007/

Gado, M. (2013, January 1). The Slaughter of Innocence. Retrieved September 4, 2014. http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/psychology/pedophiles/1.html

Harris, K. (2012, January 1). Human Trafficking. Retrieved September 4, 2014 http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/ht/human-trafficking-2012.pdf

Hilton, D. L., and Watts, C. (2011). Pornography Addiction: A Neuroscience Perspective. Surgical Neurology International, 2: 19; (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3050060/) http://www.fightthenewdrug.org/get-the-facts

Hooper, J. (n.d.). There’s No Single Path to Sexually Using or Abusing a Child. Retrieved September 10, 2014, from https://1in6.org/men/get-information/online-readings/others-who-were-involved-or-not/why-do-people-sexually-use-or-abuse-children/

Paul, P. (2007). Pornified: How Pornography Is Transforming Our Lives, Our Relationships, and Our Families. New York: Henry Hold and Co., 75; http://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/releases?ID=e228e97a-9f9e-4428-8a9e-6d4f03bdc8d0

Peters, R., Lederer, L., & Kelly, S. (n.d.). Pornography and Trafficking. Retrieved September 10, 2014, from http://soldnomore.org/pornography-and-trafficking/

Yuan, K., Quin, W., Lui, Y., and Tian, J. (2011). Internet Addiction: Neuroimaging Findings. Communicative & Integrative Biology 4, 6: 637–639; Zhou, Y., Lin, F., Du, Y., Qin, L., Zhao, Z., Xu, J., et al. (2011) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3960020/

November 6, 2014 by SHI Staff

Why Some State’s Stricter Laws are Creating a Threat of Trafficking for Others

New Study by Shared Hope International Reveals One of America’s Greatest Threats Is Going Dangerously Unaddressed

WASHINGTON, D.C., Child sex trafficking affects an estimated 100,000 American children each year. While many states have worked aggressively to combat the crime by strengthening state laws, several states have slipped dangerously behind the nation, according to a new study by Shared Hope International.

The Protected Innocence Challenge, a report on the state of child sex trafficking laws in the U.S., found that four years of sweeping legislative advancements allowed 42 states to raise their grade. In 2014, 37 states enacted 123 bills regarding domestic minor sex trafficking, resulting in the improvement of eight state grades. Louisiana earned the highest score in the nation, a 96 per cent.

Pennsylvania, Colorado and Delaware enacted the greatest law changes, raising two grades. View your state grade.

These improvements enable more aggressive investigation and prosecution, leaving traffickers searching for states with lower risk and greater tolerance. As neighboring states crack down, the only four remaining states with failing scores, California, Maine, Michigan and South Dakota, could become the next trafficking hotspot. Yet, the migration of trafficking activity may be more accurately linked to states with weak laws against buyers, those who fuel the trafficking industry by creating a profitable market for the crime. Two of America’s largest states, New York and California, are sorely lacking in this area and are at risk of becoming key trafficking destinations.

“While many states rose to the challenge and significantly strengthened laws to combat child sex trafficking, America’s most populous states are safety zones for predators,” Shared Hope International President and Founder Linda Smith said. “Failing to adequately address demand poses a significant threat to America’s children.”

The study found that buying sex with a minor is a felony in 50 states and in 49 states buyers could face human trafficking charges for their crime. However, many states struggle to enact laws that provide stricter penalties. California and New York are among 20 states that do not require a buyer to register as a sex offender if convicted of human trafficking. Buyers can benefit from a loophole in over 30 states that allows them to limit their liability by claiming they did not know the age of the victim.

Protected Innocence Challenge Press Conference

When:

11:30 – 12:00 pm
Thursday, November 6, 2014

Where:

U.S. Capitol Visitor Center | HVC-201

First St SE

Washington, D.C. 20515

Watch the free livestream of the conference at sharedhope.org/events/event/2014-protected-innocence-challenge-press-conference/

Speakers:

Congresswoman Linda Smith, President and Founder, Shared Hope International
Jen Spry, RN, Sex Trafficking Survivor
Margie Quin, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
Savannah Sanders, Author and Training Coordinator, O’Connor House Safe Action Project, Sex Trafficking Survivor
Delegate Timothy D. Hugo, Fairfax (VA-40)

November 6, 2014 by SHI Staff

Washington Named One of Three Toughest States Against Trafficking

WASHINGTON, D.C., Washington’s laws pertaining to child sex trafficking were named some of the strongest in the nation, according to a new study by Shared Hope International. The Protected Innocence Challenge reports on the sufficiency of state laws relating to domestic minor sex trafficking. Washington earned a 92.5 per cent and is one of only three states in the nation with an “A” grade. Watch the release of the state grades.

Washington has consistently been at the forefront of enacting state laws that protect minor victims of domestic minor sex trafficking and bringing justice to those who have been exploited. Washington created the first state Task Force Against Trafficking of Persons in 2002. It was one of the earliest states to enact a state trafficking law in 2003. In 2007, Washington overhauled its laws criminalizing commercial sexual exploitation of children by removing these penalties from the prostitution context and clarifying that these are crimes of sexual exploitation. In 2013, Washington law enforcement called on the state to further strengthen laws to enable greater accountability for buyers of sex with minors. In response, Senator Mike Padden championed a comprehensive anti-trafficking bill that passed with unanimous bipartisan support that specifically addressed the criminalization of buyers by making the purchase or attempt to purchase sex with a minor for a commercial sex act a class B felony. Washington has the highest rate of felony convictions for buyers of sex acts with minors, based on data from four target sites in the Demanding Justice Project.

“The alliance of law enforcement and legislators tackling sex trafficking from a policy and practice perspective is what enables Washington to develop some of the toughest laws in the nation,” President and Founder of Shared Hope International Linda Smith said. “The effort to crack down on trafficking must be informed and supported by the diverse array of key stakeholders. Washington learned that and is leading by example.”

The Protected Innocence Challenge was first conducted in 2011 and found 26 states earned failing scores. However, after four years of sweeping legislative advancements, 42 states have raised their grade. Three states, Louisiana, Tennessee and Washington, have earned “A” grades. Only nine states have not raised their grade since 2011 and California, Maine, Michigan and South Dakota are the only remaining states earning failing scores.

Previously, many states also relied on federal statues to address the crime. However, a majority of trafficking crimes were not being accepted for federal prosecution, forcing states to handle the cases locally and relying on weak or insufficient laws. The Protected Innocence Challenge was created to respond to this dynamic. The Challenge addresses key legislative gaps and makes recommendations for improvement so states can strengthen laws and implement effective state response.

November 6, 2014 by SHI Staff

Absence of Critical Law Threatens Virginia’s Kids at Risk for Trafficking

Why Some State’s Stricter Laws Are Creating a Threat of Trafficking for Others

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Virginia is the only state in the nation that lacks a law against human trafficking for sexual exploitation, a crime that impacts an estimated 100,000 U.S. children each year. According to a new study by Shared Hope International, Virginia is one of seven least protective states for at-risk kids, based on the insufficiency of its anti-trafficking laws.

In May 2014, a Roanoke County Police officer pulled over a van after she noticed rocking and other abnormal behavior. She found 16 people inside, piled on top of each other, the van smelling of sweat and urine. The driver indicated the individuals inside believed they were being taken to get a job or a visa; instead, they had been sold for $200 each. The officer was unable to arrest the driver because Virginia does not have a specific human trafficking law and federal law enforcement agents were unavailable to help with the arrest.

Shared Hope International launched the Protected Innocence Challenge, an annual evaluation of the sufficiency of state laws that impact child sex trafficking, in 2011 to respond to this dynamic. Previously, many states relied on federal statutes to address the crime; yet, many trafficking crimes were not accepted for federal prosecution, forcing states to handle the cases locally and relying on weak or insufficient laws. The Protected Innocence Challenge aims to advocate for stronger state laws to activate the nearly 30,000 state prosecutors across the nation. Over half the nation earned failing scores on the inaugural 2011 report card. Since then, 42 states have raised their grade and today only 4 states are earning failing grades.

As states strengthen laws, enabling more aggressive investigation and prosecution, traffickers may be searching for states with lower risk and greater tolerance. Only six states earned a lower score than Virginia, one being neighboring district, Washington, D.C., making the area at greater risk of attracting human trafficking.

Delegate Tim Hugo (VA-40) will announce his plans to strengthen Virginia’s human trafficking laws and raise the grade at a press conference on November 6 at the Capitol Visitor Center. Watch livestream or attend.

“I believe there is no worse crime than one committed against a child,” Delegate Tim Hugo said. “As a father, I am dedicated to ensuring child sex traffickers remain behind bars longer for such horrific behavior, so that neither my children nor any child in Virginia falls prey to those who seek them harm.”

Additionally, Virginia Congressman Frank Wolf will receive Shared Hope’s Lifetime Pathbreaker Award for a lifetime dedication to eradicating trafficking. Congressman Wolf is one of the House of Representatives’ leading crusaders for human rights. He actively implored the Obama Administration to increase its efforts to combat child sex trafficking facilitated through online classified sites like Backpage.com. Rep. Wolf has historically supported increases for Victims of Trafficking grants to develop stronger programs for victims.

November 6, 2014 by SHI Staff

South Dakota at Risk of Becoming Trafficking Destination

Why Some State’s Stricter Laws Are Creating a Threat of Trafficking for Others

WASHINGTON, D.C., South Dakota’s laws pertaining to child sex trafficking were named some of the weakest in the nation, according to a new study by Shared Hope International. The Protected Innocence Challenge reports on the sufficiency of state laws relating to domestic minor sex trafficking. South Dakota earned 58.5 per cent and is one of only four states in the nation with a failing score. Watch livestream or attend.

The study was first conducted in 2011 and found 26 states earned failing scores. However, after four years of sweeping legislative advancements, 42 states have raised their grade. Three states, Louisiana, Tennessee and Washington, have earned “A” grades. Only nine states have not raised their grade since 2011 and California, Maine, Michigan and South Dakota are the only remaining states earning failing scores. As states strengthen laws, enabling more aggressive investigation and prosecution; traffickers may be searching for states with lower risk and greater tolerance. Growing concerns that these inactive states are at risk of attracting trafficking crimes from neighboring states with stronger laws are serious.

South Dakota is surrounded by fracking operations in three bordering states, contributing to an influx of transient workers in the area. Increasing the population of men who could be commercial sex consumers, compounded by weak state laws to deter the crime could entice traffickers to the region to meet the demand for this illicit business.

South Dakota has strong federal leadership under U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson, a 2014 Shared Hope International Pathbreaker Award Recipient for his dedication to anti-trafficking efforts. U.S. Attorney Johnson has overseen the prosecution of more than 25 human trafficking cases in five years, including three life-sentences and the federal prosecution of numerous men who attempted to purchase sex from trafficking victims. His office pursued the case of United States v. Jungers through the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, securing the critical decision that buyers of sex acts with minors are committing crimes of sex trafficking under the federal law, upping the risk of such activity by those who drive the sex trafficking markets.

The strength of South Dakota’s ability to adequately respond to trafficking crimes is currently contingent on federal leadership, and is conditional on the continued investment and political will of federal leadership. The Protected Innocence Challenge was created to respond to this dynamic. Previously, many states also relied on federal statues to address the crime. However, a majority of trafficking crimes were not being accepted for federal prosecution, forcing states to handle the cases locally and relying on weak or insufficient laws. The Challenge addresses key legislative gaps and makes recommendations for improvement so states can strengthen laws and implement effective state response.