Congress Hears New Report Ahead of Sex Trafficking Prayer, Fasting Initiative
WASHINGTON – A U.S. commission held a hearing on sexual exploitation of children that included the presentation of a report to Congress with key findings on child sex-trafficking, prostitution, pornography and sex tourism in America.
The Helsinki Commission – which monitors respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in participating states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe – on Wednesday invited experts on child exploitation and cyber crimes to examine the U.S. government efforts to protect children from commercial sexual exploitation as well as international initiatives to combat child pornography and trafficking.
“Human trafficking is an escalating crisis both in the U.S. and abroad, yet it goes virtually unnoticed and unreported,” said Dr. Janice Crouse, the senior fellow of Concerned Women for America’s Beverly LaHaye Institute, in a statement on Wednesday. “The young victims are sold mercilessly into captivity, stripping them of all innocence and freedom. Meanwhile, their pimps are shamelessly profiting from this exploitation.”
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During the hearing, a panel of experts presented key findings from the Mid-Term Review of the United States on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. The report found that although national efforts to fight commercial sexual exploitation of children have increased since 2001, the U.S. must take additional steps to stop the growth of child pornography, child prostitution, child trafficking and child sex tourism, focusing on the role of technology in these crimes.
“What we found at our initial look at America, which is shown clearly in the report, is that the primary trafficking victim in the United States is not a foreign child moved across the borders. The strong majority of trafficked children are domestic children moved within our borders,” informed Linda Smith, founder and executive director of Shared Hope International, which helped organize the Review. “The new definition clearly says the American child.”
The report identified key issues that stand out as most needing attention to protect America’s children including: alarming growth of online child pornography; lack of state resources targeted at services for victims; and continue legislations on the issue.
“In India we have a seven-year program. We have these children so traumatized as we raise them,” said Smith. “In America I would love to have them for seven days in a safe environment. So often we can’t hold them and protect them from the pimps and they end back on the street.”
Smith said that contrary to general opinion that prostitution starts at 16 or 18 years of age, the average age of entry into prostitution is 13 or younger.
“Perhaps what challenges us the most is this: we do not have child prostitutes, we have prostituted children,” concluded Smith. “We have to change our language. Through exploitation vehicles such as pornography, prostitution, sex tourism, and sex trafficking, demand is being fueled and requires younger and younger and more inexperienced products.”
The report was released just two days prior to the first International Weekend of Prayer and Fasting for Victims of Sex Trafficking on Sept. 29-Oct.1. The Salvation Army spearheaded this initiative and several Christian groups have joined the effort including Concerned Women for America.
“We hope that churches and Christians nationwide will set aside time this weekend to remember those precious souls who have been held captive in sex slavery,” said Dr. Janice Crouse.
“It is heartbreaking that sex slavery exists in the world, but unfortunately it is a widespread epidemic happening right under our noses. Christians have the duty to educate themselves on this tragedy, and to offer up prayers and petitions for the many victims. This weekend is a perfect time for many to come together in prayer asking God to protect and heal the victims of this crime.”
