For Immediate Release
June 16, 2006
Contact: Karrie Delaney
Director of Communications
Tel: 703.351.8062
Karrie@sharedhope.org
The Defenders Launch Nationwide Campaign on Father's Day
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'She Has A Name'
WASHINGTON, DC June 16 -- In an effort to help prevent commercial sexual exploitation of children in America, The Defenders, organized by Shared Hope International (SHI) has launched a national effort by men for men to combat the use of child pornography and prostitution.
"She Has A Name," an ad created by The Defenders, advances the first offensive in the battle against sexual exploitation of children by the sex industry and its buyers. The ad, calling on men to join The Defenders, airs nation-wide beginning this Friday, June 16th. The ad specifically challenges men to be defenders and protectors of children, not abusers. Alyn Waller of Philadelphia concludes the ad stating, "Real men defend women and children no matter whose daughters they are." To view the PSA, please visit www.thedefendersusa.org.
Researchers estimate that the sale of child pornography alone has become a $3 billion a year industry, and 55% of that industry is based in the United States. Men are the primary consumers in this marketplace of victimization in America.
Linda Smith, Founder of Shared Hope International said, "Sexual slavery is rampant around the world, but God forbid we should attack the problem in every nation on earth and allow our own children here in North America to be taken, used, and destroyed by the predators. We need men to take a stand against the commercial sexual exploitation of children in America."
The Defenders will specifically focus on raising public awareness of the harms of buying sex and using pornography to both the victim and the buyer or user; encourage public debate on the normalization of buying younger and younger children, as evidenced by the growing number of children being drawn into prostitution at age 11 and younger; challenge civil society groups including faith-based organizations and churches to provide refuge and services to the victims and the victimizers, many of whom believe they are now unacceptable to society; provide resources through The Defenders website to men to help educate each other and access help.
Over the course of the past several years, SHI has researched and investigated the sex industry markets around the world where women and children have been exploited. SHI recently hosted the "United States Mid-Term Review on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in America" in Washington, DC, which gathered grassroots organizations from around the country along with top-level government officials to discuss an agenda for action to combat this issue within our borders.
For more information on The Defenders, please visit www.thedefendersusa.org. For more information on Shared Hope International, please visit www.thedefendersusa.org .
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About Shared Hope International:
A global activist in a worldwide effort to prevent and eradicate the marketplaces of sexual exploitation through a three pronged approach of prevention, intervention and restoration. Founded in 1998 by former Congresswoman Linda Smith, Shared Hope International operates seven homes of hope, providing long term shelter and restorative care to those who are survivors of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. In addition, SHI has partnered with nongovernmental organizations worldwide in 14 countries in order to strengthen laws that prosecute the perpetrator and provide services to victims of sex trafficking.
About ECPAT - USA:
A network of organizations and individuals working together for the elimination of child prostitution, child pornography and trafficking of children for sexual purposes. It seeks to encourage the world community to ensure that children everywhere enjoy their fundamental rights free from all forms of commercial sexual exploitation.
About The Protection Project at the Johns Hopkins SAIS:
A human rights research institute based at the Foreign Policy Institute at The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC. Founded in 1994 to address the issue of trafficking in persons as a human rights violation, The Protection Project focuses on the promotion of human rights values throughout the world. Of particular importance to The Protection Project is the protection of human security, especially women's and children's rights; fostering of civil society and nongovernmental organizations development through capacity building and coalition building; enhancement of the rule of law by encouraging citizen participation in the political process; advancement of human rights education; and elimination of trafficking in persons.
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