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Since 2010, January marks the observance of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the United States. While trafficking exists year-round, the month provides an opportunity for the country to turn its lens inward, examining what progress has been made toward ending this human rights abuse, where shortcomings exist, and what threats are emerging. This self-reflection is more critical than ever given the impact of COVID-19 on exacerbating vulnerabilities for trafficking and exploitation, particularly in a society where in-person contact has migrated to virtual platforms. Research has shown that online grooming and recruitment for child sex trafficking have exploded, with a frightening proliferation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), formerly called "child pornography."
ECPAT-USA has partnered with other leaders in the anti-trafficking and children's rights communities to spearhead federal legislation that will require internet platforms to take steps toward the elimination of CSAM. Most significantly, ECPAT-USA has supported the passage of the EARN-IT Act, a bipartisan bill that addresses loopholes in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act that have facilitated the dissemination of CSAM.
Please join us as we discuss strategies for passage of the EARN-IT ACT, efforts by shareholders at companies like Facebook to improve child protection practices, and successful initiatives in the UK and Europe that will provide opportunities to explore alternative approaches toward ensuring that children are no longer bought, sold, or otherwise exploited online for sexual consumption.
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