Advocating for Trafficking Survivors In The Criminal Justice System
Since our founding, ECPAT-USA has been at the forefront of the fight for legislation that will protect children who are commercially sexually exploited. With a new administration sworn in and a new session of Congress starting in Washington, D.C., we are also excited to welcome our new Director of Public Policy, Nina DeJonghe. Nina will be helping shape our advocacy efforts this year, including our work on sex trafficking and the criminal justice system.
Cases involving child sex trafficking are complex and require a multijurisdictional approach. It is imperative that victims receive sufficient protection from law enforcement and that the judicial system upholds the law by prosecuting sexual predators whose sole purpose is to victimize children by subjecting them to a harmful life for monetary gain.
We must also acknowledge the level of irreversible trauma placed on children subjected to this lifestyle, which sometimes leaves them unable to navigate their lives after being victimized. To achieve this, it is crucial that trauma-informed practices and measures are in place to support victims.
Trafficking in the News
Exploitation affects communities in every state in the U.S. Below, you can learn more about cases related to sex trafficking across the country that made headlines this month.
Houston man gets life for trafficking girls for sex - A 45-year-old Houston man has been sent to prison and ordered to pay nearly $1 million following his convictions on five separate counts of sex trafficking involving adults and minors.
FBI finds 33 missing children in an anti-trafficking operation - Thirty-three children were recovered in an anti-trafficking operation in Southern California dubbed "Operation Lost Angels.”
United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe Maintains Priority on Seeking Justice And Recovery For Victims Of Child Exploitation – United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe of the Northern District of Florida announced that a total of 39 defendants were indicted in 2020 on federal charges involving the exploitation of children, ranging from production, distribution, and possession of child pornography to sex trafficking of minors.
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