How Sex Traffickers Prey on the Vulnerabilities of Immigrant Populations 

Jewel (pseudonym) faced severe economic insecurity in her home country of Nigeria. When she heard of the opportunity to work in Denmark as a caregiver for senior citizens, she felt incredibly fortunate. 

“I was thanking God for the opportunity to be in this country. I was looking forward to starting work,” she recalled.  

When she arrived in Denmark, she was met by another woman, who brought her to Copenhagen’s red-light district. “This is where you’ll be working,” the woman said.  

Initially confused, Jewel looked around for a hospital or something reminiscent of a caregiving facility. She quickly realized that the opportunity she had been promised was a hoax. 

In that moment, Jewel’s heart shattered into a million pieces. For several years to follow, Jewel was serially raped by sex buyers and experienced repeated threats to her life from her sex traffickers.  

Jewel is just one of thousands of immigrant women who have been trafficked into the sex trade. 

📣ACTION: Share this Blog for Human Trafficking Prevention Month!

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Spread the word about how sex traffickers prey on vulnerable populations, and call people to join the cause, by sharing this blog on your social media.

The Children of CDA 230: Story Spotlight

Fifteen-year-old John Doe (pseudonym) was seeking people who would accept him. People who wouldn't bully him for being autistic. Or for being gay. 

He thought he could find that on the Grindr dating app. 

But instead, Grindr "matched" John with four adult men who raped him. 

Undoubtedly, those four adult men shoulder the blame for John's rape. But so does Grindr. 

Grindr claimed to be an 18+ dating app, yet aggressively marketed to children. It did not verify John's age when he signed up for an account. Instead, it welcomed the child onto the app, geolocated him, and matched him with nearby adult predators. 

Yet when John Doe sued Grindr for its active role in his exploitation, he was denied justice. The court granted Grindr's motion to dismiss, on the basis of CDA 230—a dangerous law that immunizes tech platforms for the harms their products facilitate.  

CDA 230 is the single greatest enabler of sexual exploitation in the digital age. It must be repealed or reformed. 

📣ACTION: Urge Congress to Reform CDA 230!

NCOSE Mourns Passing of President Jimmy Carter

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) mourns the passing of President Jimmy Carter, a leader whose life and legacy embody a deep commitment to dignity and human flourishing.

President Carter’s tireless efforts to improve the well-being of people around the world, particularly his focus on combating sexual exploitation, will continue to inspire generations to come.

“We are grateful for President Carter’s leadership and dedication to challenge the narrative around prostitution as a ‘profession’ while advocating for holding sex buyers accountable instead of those being exploited,” said Marcel van der Watt, president of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. “This approach, rooted in justice and compassion, treats purchasing and profiting from sexual exploitation as serious crimes, rather than penalizing the victims. These principles have been a guiding force in our work and a cornerstone of his enduring legacy.”

The Supreme Court Must Act to Protect Children from Online Pornography Exposure

Your child walks into a supermarket, convenience store, or bookstore. Are they able to buy pornography? The answer is no.  

Most states have laws that prohibit the distribution of sexual material that is “harmful to minors.” In 1968, the Supreme Court held that it was permissible for New York to prohibit the sale of “girlie” magazines to a 16-year-old boy. The Court said that it was okay for New York to use a definition of obscene material that is unique for children. As a result, most states have acted to protect children from being exposed to pornography in an in-person setting. 

What about online?

In today’s connected world it’s even more important that there are safeguards to prevent children from being exposed to pornography. Yet in the online context, the Supreme Court has not been as deferential to the needs of communities to protect children.  

📣ACTION: Ask Your Legislators to Protect Children From Online Pornography!

Sincerely,