As a constituent concerned about the pervasiveness and severity of human trafficking crimes and the widespread sexual exploitation of our Nation’s children, Let your state leaders know you welcome the changes promised in House Bill 2425. On November 11, 2015, Shared Hope International released annual report cards for every state and Oklahoma received a “B.” Oklahoma could achieve an “A,” putting it at the forefront of states combatting child sex trafficking and protecting victims. House Bills 2424 and 2425 could help achieve this goal.
On April 26, House Bill 2425 was enacted into law! This bill addresses demand while expanding protections for older minors by providing that engaging in prostitution with any individual under the age of 18 is a felony with accordingly higher penalties. Before the enactment of 2425, Oklahoma’s CSEC offense titled “child prostitution” did not offer protection to sixteen and seventeen year old teenage victims, which implies that engaging these minors in commercial sex is not as exploitative. State CSEC offenses should be defined to protect all minors who are bought for sex. Ensuring heightened penalties for purchasing and engaging in commercial sex acts with any child under the age of 18 reflects the seriousness of the offense committed by perpetrators who prey on the vulnerabilities of children and sexually exploit them.
Thank you @GovMaryFallin (OK) for signing HB 2425 to protect older teenagers and hold buyers of all minors accountable for CSEC offenses!
— SharedHope Int’l (@SharedHope) April 28, 2016
