ECPAT-USA ENDORSES NEW BILL THAT STRENGTHENS PROTECTIONS FOR CHILD VICTIMS

For 30 years, ECPAT-USA has been at the forefront of the fight against child sexual abuse and exploitation. To that end, the organization has been contributing to a new piece of legislation, the "Strengthening Transparency and Obligations to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment" (STOP CSAM) Act of 2023”, which aims to strengthen the protection of child victims of sexual abuse and imposes greater accountability and transparency requirements on large technology companies.

"ECPAT-USA applauds Senator Durbin for advancing legislation that seeks to address the growing number of online sexual abuse materials. Bullying and child sexual exploitation continue to be a problem on major online platforms despite mounting outcry to keep kids safe. Companies like Meta and Twitter continue to harm children by exacerbating the mental health crisis among youth and failing to curb child sexual abuse material on their platforms. While some efforts have been made, there continues to be a lack of urgency to lessen the impact of harm done to kids. Social media companies need to listen to child safety experts and act upon recommendations made through evidence-based research and youth testimonials," said Alexander Delgado, Interim Director of Public Policy at ECPAT-USA. "We look forward to working with Senator Durbin’s offices and both the House and Senate to continue bipartisan efforts to end online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

The STOP CSAM Act of 2023 addresses gaps in child sexual abuse laws enhancing support for victims and promoting accountability and transparency by the tech industry. The bill was introduced today in Congress by Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL).

"The rise in sexual assaults on teenage girls is a disturbing trend that must be addressed," said Lori L. Cohen, CEO of ECPAT-USA. "Children are being victimized by those they trust, both at home and at school. The pandemic has only made the problem worse, with children spending  more time online and vulnerable to exploitation."

According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention’s latest report, 20% of teen girls have been victims of violent sexual behavior, with one in ten reporting being raped. Furthermore, the number of reports to the Cybertipline has been rising at a disconcerting rate. From 2014 to 2021, the number of incidents of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) rose by almost 2,800%. In 2021 alone, the Cybertipline received over 29.3 million reports of CSAM, a 35% increase from 2020*.

ECPAT-USA remains committed to advocating for and advancing policies that uplift, strengthen, and support survivors.

About ECPAT-USA

ECPAT-USA is the leading anti-child trafficking organization in the United States seeking to end child trafficking and sexual exploitation through education, partnerships, and legislative advocacy. ECPAT-USA is a member of ECPAT International, a global network with one common mission: to eliminate the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children around the world. For more information, visit ecpatusa.org.

*Source: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's CyberTipline