From the Defenders USA archives:

Our History

We were looking around the table at each other in states of disbelief and shock at what we had just seen and heard.

We had been through a day where we had seen the actual bartering and eventual sale of a 15 year old by a trafficker getting $400 an hour for her body. He offered the human rights investigator 5 girls total to pick from, all between 14-17 years of age, this transaction captured on a button camera. Not in a foreign country, but in Atlanta, Georgia.

We heard that there are hundreds of thousands of young girls forced into the commercial sex industry every year. While many are photographed and sold at tourist destinations or to convention goers, most are sold to local guys traveling less than an hour from their own children and home, driven to satisfy there fantasy fueled by online pornography. We heard from the Cyber Crimes Unit of the FBI, as well as Homeland Security, alarming statistics of large numbers of ordinary men starting a secret life of pornography viewing that quickly inflames to using child pornography — then large numbers acting out their fantasies with younger and younger girls.

We knew we had to do something, but what?

We had learned a lot at the evaluation in Washington DC, but where do we start fighting back in a battle that is taking prisoners and leaving casualties of thousands of husbands, brothers, and fathers whose lives are destroyed from the aggressive pornography industry?

Shared Hope International was commissioned to co-host the U.S. Mid-Term Review on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) in America in order to evaluate best practices, gaps in current efforts, and challenges faced in the field. The Mid-Term Review was conducted in two stages. The first stage collected reports from the Justice Department, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services as well as 35 Non Government Groups around the United States with an analysis of their respective programs, funding availability, challenges, and perspectives on the issue. The second stage consisted of the conference held April 3-4, 2006 in Washington DC which brought together government agency representatives, law enforcement officials, academics, private industry representatives, and NGO leaders in a structured discussion of the trafficking, prostitution, pornography, sex tourism and supply and demand of children.

Founder of Shared Hope International, Former Congresswomen Linda Smith, noted  that it became clear during the first stage survey collection that while there were numerous programs addressing the victims of commercial sexual exploitation and service creation for victims, there was a severe lack in two areas: Prevention and Demand. There was virtually no focus on deterring the client from entering the market.

It was then that Shared Hope International began gathering a core alliance of men from around the Country to explore how best to fight the battle of a growing demand for younger and younger girls. This demand is coming from ordinary American men.

Our first planning sessions were April 3-4, each evening following the daily work at the conference in Washington, DC. Shared Hope International invited us to listen in as experts from over 100 civil society groups and 4 government agencies gathered to discuss the threat and scope of child exploitation for profit in the United States. This foundation of knowledge on the issues surrounding commercial sexual exploitation such as child prostitution, child trafficking, child pornography and child sex tourism served as an impetus for action from The Defenders. This momentum sparked an intense debate on how this group of men could make any impact. The battle seemed too big, but at the end of the evening the question became, ‘What would you do if this was your daughter?’

And so the solution became clear – it is imperative that we impede demand by ‘DEFENDING AND PROTECTING ALL MEN’S DAUGHTERS’. Men are not living up to their natural role – the role of protector and defender. It was here that the concept of The Defenders was born – Calling on men to defend themselves, each other, and the children of America against the harms of the commercial sex industry.

The first set of goals identified by The Defenders were:

• To raise public awareness of the harms of buying sex, and of pornography use, to both the victim and the buyer or user.

• To encourage public discussion on the issue of how “normal” it has become to buy younger and younger children, as evidenced by the growing number of children being drawn into prostitution at age 11 and younger.

• To challenge civil society groups including faith-based organizations and churches to provide refuge and services to the victims and the victimizers, who both believe they are now totally unacceptable to society.

• To establish a website which links individuals to resources currently available and which connects people who want to join the fight.

• To make available the resources needed by a man who wants to help a friend or co-worker caught in the web of sexual exploitation, or to a man who wants to make a presentation on the subject to a group, or to get help himself.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9B9zHjUAAk’]

The Defenders planned to execute these goals by:

• Produce and air 60- and 30-second TV commercials to air on networks like CNN, FOX, and ESPN. Target: men 25-55.

• Produce and air 10 and 30-second radio spots.

• Create The Defenders website. Involve men in standing up to protect women and children. Discourage men from viewing pornography and using children and provide resources and help to those currently stuck in addiction and wanting help.

Each of us has taken the pledge and made a commitment to ourselves, each other and our nation’s children. We acknowledge that the battle is growing every minute and that this is just the beginning. Most importantly, we need you.

You can make the difference in the life of a child. Please join us and become a Defender today. 

The events of last week were tragic for all of us, and most definitely traumatizing. A shooting in Milwaukie, Oregon, a shooting at the Clackamas Town Center in Clackamas, Oregon, and of course you have all heard about the events in Newtown. Many lives were lost last week, and that is hard for anyone. As a nation, we are heartbroken. All around the country, people are mourning for this tragic event.

Today I was sitting at my desk asking myself what these events mean for us as Defenders. They aren’t related to human trafficking at all, and they nothing to do with ending the demand, so what does this mean for us as Defenders? As I asked myself this question, I turned my attention to our vlog where Vern Smith, the founder of the Defenders, talks about why he started this organization. In that vlog, Vern says “it’s part of a man’s nature to want to be a Defender,” and I realized that now, in the midst of these tragic events, I think it is even more important for us to stand up and Defend the women and children around us.

I’m not just talking about ending the demand for commercial sexual exploitation. In this context I’m talking about supporting and defending the families who lost their loved ones; I’m talking about holding our children tighter, and appreciating every moment with them; I’m talking about being a healer of brokenness.

I did some research on how we as Defenders can stand up and defend our families and those affected in Newtown, and this is what I came up with. First of all, an article by Psych Central says that it is important to adjust to these events at your own pace. Turn off your TV and social media if you have to. Don’t adjust at the pace of the media. Mourn and grieve on your own timeline. That article also provides more great advice on how to handle these events on a personal level.

Check out this article by ABCNews if you want information on how to contribute financially to the families who lost loved ones. Finally, if you and your family would like to write a letter to the families in Newtown, the US Post Office has opened a box for that purpose alone. You can send your letters to the following address:

Messages of Condolence for Newtown
PO Box 3700
Newtown, CT 06470 

Again, I know that these events are not related to human trafficking, but regardless, as Defenders we can make a difference and support those who need support. This is my call to action. In a time of national grief, we can bring about healing and restoration. We can be healers. We can be Defenders.