PRESS CENTER
Protected Innocence Challenge (2018)
On the heels of a divisive mid-term election, the Protected Innocence Challenge State Grade Report reveals an encouraging bi-partisan trend: individuals are coming together to fight child sex trafficking. Shared Hope’s annual State Grade report analyzes state laws to protect juvenile sex trafficking survivors and hold buyers and traffickers accountable. Through 8 years of empowering grassroots action, Shared Hope is leading a movement and has changed the map from 26 states with F grades in 2011, to 35 states with A and B grades in 2018. Across the nation, Shared Hope’s advocacy tools provide a bridge for anyone to reach out to their elected officials and effect change.
Protected Innocence Challenge Home Page
Protected Innocence Challenge (2018) Press Release
Press Releases
- Survivors of Child Sex Trafficking are Never the Aggressor (2/13/2019)
- Honoring Representative Chris Smith: A Lifetime Pathbreaker (11/10/2017)
- Critical Human Trafficking Legislation Passes the House (7/12/2017)
- Pathbreaker Awardee Leads Human Rights Efforts (7/10/2017)
- Despite Sex Trafficking Laws, Kids Can be Charged with Prostitution in Majority of States While Exploiters Walk Away (11/17/2016)
In The News
Human trafficking is a hidden aftermath of natural disasters – PRI – 10/5/2017
Activists want to fight sex trafficking by changing a key Internet law – arsTECHNICA – 9/6/2017
16-year-old sex trafficking victim rescued, two men arrested – KATU News – 4/28/2017
Bon Secours looks at combating human trafficking through mobile clinics – WRIC News – 3/29/2017
The Problem With Using a Lot Lizard – How To End Human Trafficking – Truck Driving Jobs.com – 3/13/2017
3 Nonprofit Leaders Speak On Their Top Priorities To Eradicate Human Trafficking – Forbes.com – 1/31/2017
397 || Shared Hope International: Linda’s First Brothel – SHATTERED Magazine – 1/9/2017
Tennessee Streamlines Help Efforts For Human Trafficking Victims – The CHATTANOOGAN – 1/11/2017
Mississippi’s Child Human Trafficking Laws Receive “B” Grade – Jackson Free Press – 11/28/2016
Kansas receives “B” grade from human-trafficking prevention group – WIBW News – 11/21/2016
Louisiana ranks #1 for best anti-trafficking laws – Shreveport Times – 11/21/2016
Making a difference: Linda Smith – – ClarkCountyToday.com – 11/4/2016
Media Contact
Samantha Vardaman
Vice President and General Counsel
samantha@sharedhope.org
703-351-8062
T: @sharedhope
F: /sharedhopeinternational
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Shared Hope International
Leading a worldwide effort to eradicate sex trafficking
Our Mission
Shared Hope International strives to prevent the conditions that foster sex trafficking, restore victims of sex slavery, and bring justice to vulnerable women and children. We envision a world passionately opposed to sex trafficking and a community committed to restoring survivors to lives of purpose, value and choice – one life at a time.
Our Vision
Our vision is to coordinate a national U.S. network of protection to improve the response to victims of trafficking. We believe we can create a world where every survivor is surrounded by trained professionals, an alert community, just law and policy, knowledgeable service providers and appropriate shelter options.
Our Founder
Linda Smith, formerly Washington state legislator (1983-93) and U.S. Congresswoman (1995-99), is the founder and president of Shared Hope International, whose mission is to eradicate sex trafficking.
Linda Smith is a leader in the global movement to end sex trafficking. In 1998, while serving in the U.S. Congress, Linda traveled to a notorious brothel district in India where the hopeless faces of women and children forced into prostitution compelled Linda to found Shared Hope International. Linda is the primary author of From Congress to the Brothel and Renting Lacy and co-author of The National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking and the DEMAND. Report. Linda has testified before Congress, presented at national and international forums, and has been published in news outlets and journals. Linda served as a Washington State legislator (1983-93), before she was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1994.
