Stop Online Child Trafficking
Protect Children From Online Exploitation and Trafficking
Child online sexual exploitation is rampant. As with all pandemics, online sexual abuse and trafficking of children is not easy to detect, threatens lives, especially of the most vulnerable, and if unaddressed, will have daunting and irreversible impacts on families and society. In 2019, the New York Times reported in a series of articles on this crime, that 45 million photos and videos of children being exploited, tortured, and abused were uploaded to the internet during the previous year. Some of these children were as young as infants and toddlers. Furthermore, as the Times as well as other human rights groups have noted, the market for these images is growing as children spend increasing amounts of time online.
To respond to the growing reality of this crime, especially during the current pandemic of COVID-19, we encourage you to join us in taking action below and sharing these recommended resources on protecting children and preventing online trafficking and exploitation.
Support the EARN IT Act
The EARN IT Act is a strong bipartisan legislation to confront the explosion of online child sexual abuse material. The EARN IT Act has been reintroduced in the Senate by Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Lindsey Graham(R-SC), and in the House of Representatives by Ann Wagner (R-MO) and Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), after having been introduced in previous sessions and passed unanimously by the Senate Judiciary Committee twice.
AEHT believes this legislation can be a beginning for achieving justice for victims and can be a step forward in offering some level of addressing online exploitation and trafficking of children. AEHT stands ready to work with Congress on this and future legislation.
Report Online Sexual Exploitation of Children: 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)
NCMEC’s CyberTipline is the nation’s centralized reporting system for the online exploitation of children. The public and electronic service providers can make reports of suspected online enticement of children for sexual acts, extra-familial child sexual molestation, child pornography, child sex tourism, child sex trafficking, unsolicited obscene materials sent to a child, misleading domain names, and misleading words or digital images on the internet. Learn more or make a report online: https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline
Take the Safety Pledge!
The Safety Pledge is a collaboration between the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the White House to safeguard children online. While we continue to develop our understanding of the impact of COVID-19 and social distancing on child safety, we already know that more time online means more direct access to children, including for those intending to harm them. From online enticement to sexting and sextortion, it is critical that we combine efforts to protect children from online risks.
Take the pledge, and do your part to help keep kids safer online. https://safetypledge.org/
Downloadable Resources for Protecting Children from Online Predators and Traffickers
• COVID-19 Parenting: Keeping Children Safe
• UNICEF: How to Keep Your Child Safe Online
• ECPAT Online Safety Guide for Youth
• ECPAT Online Safety Guide for Parents
• ECPAT Online Safety Guide for Educators
• Protecting Your Kids Online
• Internet Safety Tips While ‘Safer at Home’
Videos on Online Safety and Prevention
For Kids: Stay Safe at Home. Stay Safe Online.
For Parents: Stay Safe at Home. Stay Safe Online.