|
Individuals working in the child protection field know that the identification of victims of sex trafficking and exploitation is a critical first step but by no means the last. The harm these children suffer is both intense and enduring and requires a combined effort by the government, service providers, and advocates to help them heal. In order for survivors to thrive, it is vital they have access to comprehensive trauma-informed care and practices. Part of these practices must recognize that adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s) may have occurred prior to exploitation.
ECPAT-USA supports two long-standing pieces of legislation in Congress that would take steps toward addressing these issues and better serving vulnerable children.
The Child Abuse Prevention Treatment Act (CAPTA) provides federal funding and assistance to states to support prevention, assessment, investigation, prosecution, and treatment activities for children. Advocates and lawmakers are seeking to update this legislation to account for new vulnerabilities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. CAPTA was amended by the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act to require an initial investigation and assessment of child trafficking reports to help identify and support victims. JVTA was also a monumental piece of legislation because it recognized child sex trafficking victims as victims of "child abuse and neglect" and "sexual abuse" under the guidelines of CAPTA. Support for this legislation is crucial because it helps support agencies, community-based organizations, and nonprofits.
The House of Representatives recently passed the H.R. 1651 VOCA fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021. This bipartisan legislative measure would offer more financial compensation to victims by increasing funding to state agencies. VOCA funding is pivotal for child advocacy centers, rape crisis centers, and domestic violence shelters, all of which help support trafficking victims.
ECPAT-USA is actively engaged in appropriation requests for CAPTA funding and ongoing conversations with congressional staff regarding TVPA reauthorizations. In addition, ECPAT-USA is hosting a panel entitled Breaking Down Systemic Barriers: Trafficked Youth & the Criminal Justice System on May 6 that will explore these issues further as well as discuss alternatives to incarceration for exploited youth.
|
