ECPAT-USA Responds to DOJ's Seizure of Backpage

Apr 6

Today ECPAT-USA issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Justice's shut down of online marketplace Backpage.com. The seizure of Backpage.com and it's affiliated websites comes just two weeks after the passage of FOSTA-SESTA. Carol Smolenski, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA, said:

"One of ECPAT-USA's main goals in supporting FOSTA-SESTA was to shut down Backpage because it's the primary online marketplace for buying and selling of children's bodies. Kids who are abused in the commercial sex trade are affected by the trauma they endure for the rest of their lives. It is long overdue for this website to be shut."

FOSTASESTABackpage

ECPAT USA

ECPAT-USA is the leading policy organization in the United States seeking to end the commercial, sexual exploitation of children through awareness, advocacy, policy, and legislation. ECPAT-USA is a member of ECPAT International, a network of organizations in 93 countries working together to protect every child’s basic human right to grow up free from the threat of sexual exploitation and trafficking.

https://www.ecpatusa.org