PROTECTING CHILDREN DURING NATIONAL INTERNET SAFETY MONTH
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While the connections we make online help create engaged global communities, the internet has also opened the door to insidious forms of exploitation. For years, traffickers have been abusing the web, especially social media sites, to connect with youth more easily than ever before. In fact, studies have shown that exploiters can groom children for online sexual activity in as little as 18 minutes. ECPAT-USA has long approached tackling online exploitation as a vital aspect of our work, but it has become even more urgent in the past months.
As the COVID-19 outbreak moved learning, work and after-school activities online, we recognized that this "new normal" increased the potential risks to kids exponentially. Youth are spending more time than ever on the internet, and we quickly recognized the need to take a leadership role on this critical issue.
ONLINE SAFETY GUIDES
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Beginning in March, we worked with students, advocates, educators, parents and sex trafficking survivors to create no-nonsense online safety guides for youth, parents, and teachers. These guides are available for free on our site and are meant to educate and empower others with the tools they need to protect themselves and their families on the internet. We are also working on translating this crucial information into other languages, and a version of the Parent Guide in Spanish is already available.
UNITED NATIONS PANEL
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Additionally, we are proud of the opportunity to bring this work to the international stage by hosting a panel on this topic as a side event to this year's United Nations High-Level Political Forum. This virtual round table will bring together experts in child sex trafficking and exploitation, child protection, and internet safety. Join us on July 14th at 11 a.m. EST.
UPLIFTING SURVIVORS' VOICES
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Our Survivors' Council has been essential in shaping our programs and guiding our advocacy. As such, leading up to July 30’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we are amplifying their diverse voices on how the color of their skin has impacted their experiences as trafficking survivors in a new series on our blog, Survivor Stories.
While today is the final day of National Internet Safety Month, it is important to remember that the risk of online exploitation exists year-round. As we move forward, we must continue to work together to protect all children from trafficking in all its forms.
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ECPAT-USA is the leading anti-child trafficking organization in the United States seeking to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children through awareness, advocacy, policy, and legislation.
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