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John
In March, we sounded the alarm that traffickers would take advantage of COVID-19...
Now today, as the pandemic has continued, the vulnerability of survivors is increasing due to job loss, wage cuts, loss of childcare, and illness - their very livelihood and freedom is at grave risk. And traffickers and pimps are still preying on vulnerable people. Our community partners and boots on the ground are telling us COVID-19 has not slowed them down.
Buyers of commercial sexual exploitation may have paused momentarily in mid-March, but law enforcement is telling us that purchasing online, and on the streets, continues to be in motion. And indeed, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) recently reported that their cyber tips have increased by 106%.
Even more shocking, porn companies are offering free viewing of their content in some countries as a marketing strategy. Pornhub was featured on primetime television as a SNL parody commercial (WARNING: NSFW OR YOUNG EYES). It's described as "an advertisement that unites people during the coronavirus pandemic in a unique way." The parody includes messages like "We'll be here for you" and "For however long it takes." The YouTube stream has 702,086 views and over 11,000 likes.
Children and youth are seeing and hearing messages that porn can be a comfort in times of crisis...that they don't need to feel alone when they have Pornhub "as a friend". And yet, their engagement with these platforms and those who use them puts them at further risk for Internet-based danger, predatory grooming and exploitation.
Shared Hope is working more aggressively than ever to counteract these dangers and the traffickers, to support survivors and minimize Internet-based dangers with prevention education. We can keep hope alive during these disturbing and uniquely challenge times. We believe we can do our most impactful, effective work when we do it together!
 Tomorrow is #GivingTuesdayNow - a special day of global celebration, generosity, service and unity - all in response to COVID-19. On this day, we are calling on those who care about protecting children, empowering survivors, and ending child sex trafficking to join with us. As we have proven many times in our 21-year history, we can overcome these challenges we when take collective action.
You can help us stand in the gaps on #GivingTuesdayNow through 3 simple but powerful actions.
Please join with us, there is more to come tomorrow. Survivors, advocates, and staff have many stories to share with you about how your support this #GivingTuesdayNow will make a life-saving difference! Thank you for helping us keep hope alive!
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