OSCE Ministers Urge Concerted Action to Combat Sexual Exploitation of Children-Shared Hope International a Key Player in Effort

Shared Hope International has played a vital role in strengthening efforts domestically and internationally to protect children against commercial sexual exploitation. Linda Smith, Founder of Shared Hope International (SHI), presented findings from a report spearheaded by SHI, ECPAT USA, and the Protection Project of Johns Hopkins University to the U.S. Congress, revealing how children are exploited in the U.S. and concrete next steps to combat it. This information was included in a presentation to an international governing body called the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) which is the world's largest regional security organization with 56 participating countries. To view the Report on the U.S. Mid Term Review on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in America, please visit www.sharedhope.org. The following is an excerpt from the OSCE release:

“Linda Smith, founder of Shared Hope International and a former Member of Congress, presented the findings of the U.S. Mid-term Review on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in America, identifying five key issues which stand out as the most immediate and urgent needs to protect America's children: confront the demand side of exploitation; aggressively pursue those responsible for the online trafficking in children; ensure sufficient services for victims, especially shelter; expand cooperation between law enforcement agencies at all levels; and further strengthen Federal law. She made an impassioned call to decriminalize the prostituted minor, “What we've found was that these kids, when identified, are called prostitutes, and they're quickly moved into detention when they're found, treated like a criminal, and then, when released, put in a foster care system where they bleed out. We do not have child prostitutes. We have prostituted children.” With respect to pornography, she decried the marketing to recruit boys as clients as well as the explosion of pornographic images of children creating demand for direct sexual violation of children.”
To read full release, please click here

Shared Hope Partners with the Department of Justice to help establish and grow Human Trafficking Task Forces in 10 cities across America.

For eight years, Shared Hope International (SHI) has worked with the women and children devastated by the effects of the commercial sex industry around the world and in the United States. SHI has partnered with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide in 14 countries to rescue and restore sex trafficking victims and has conducted multidisciplinary community organization and public education efforts leading to increased awareness, victim identification and comprehensive “Next Steps” documents. Through our work, we have confronted problems of misidentification and mislabeling of the victims as well as the lack of holistic services to this population.

Through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), SHI plans to assist 10 newly funded task forces by providing assessments, resources, training and educational materials to build the foundations to improve access to and delivery of service to domestic child sex trafficking victims. These tools will equip law enforcement agencies and social service providers to engage in the identification of these victims in order to bring the victims to the services available to them under state and federal legislation.

Please stay tuned for updates from the field.

Shared Hope International’s “One Life at a Time” Calendars.

Today, with your help, we have put a face on the suffering of sex tourism and trafficking. Together we have rescued the battered women and their hurt and discarded children. We have reached out to the farthest corners of the earth where the deepest, darkest secrets of this horrifying business are hidden and exposed them to the light!
We are offering the 2006 Shared Hope International Calendar with a suggested donation of $25.00.

Click here to order your calendar and place the suggested amount in the field that says general giving or by contacting our offices at 1-866-HER-LIFE. These calendars serve as a daily reminder that through your prayers and giving, you have had a hand in touching lives, healing wounds, and instilling hope where no hope could be found. Thank you for standing with us to serve what the world calls ‘the least of these’.
Today by God’s grace and with your generous support, we have a worldwide network of safe houses and services for young women and their children. As our family grows we continue to make room for yet one more. There can be no other choice. God’s love and grace has no limits. Each day as you check the calendar, pray that God will give us strength and wisdom as we reach out to more and more of these little ones God calls precious.

Shared Hope Builds Partnership with Anti-Trafficking Organization To Reach Exploited Children in the Baltimore and DC Metro Area

Shared Hope has found an ally in Sid Ford, Executive Director of YANA (You Are Never Alone), in combating the heinous crime of sex trafficking in the U.S.

YANA is the only Maryland based organization devoted to eliminating the sexual exploitation and despair of women and children involved in prostitution through its direct services (counseling, outreach, drop-in, jail services), advocacy and community partnerships.

As SHI’s Report from the U.S. Mid-Term Review on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in America directly identifies, “child prostitution in the United States is a significant and growing problem…entry into prostitution or the commercial sex industry in the U.S. is 11-13 years old” (2006, p. 12). In Baltimore, the problem is even worse than that. YANA is aware of children younger than 11 who are forced to perform sexual acts to satisfy deranged individuals in their families, extended families, or neighborhoods. The status quo is a deadly version of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” YANA has long led one of the few discussions in the Baltimore community on the presence and devastating effects of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and other “secret” ills. Bringing the issue of demand to the forefront is key in order to expose those that would exploit our children. And the great need for services to restore victims is at the core of their mission.

SHI will work with YANA to identify and bring services to child victims/survivors of sexual trafficking; working collaboratively with local and State leaders to train professionals on the issue; and helping the wider community identify both victims and perpetrators in its midst

SHI in the News

SHI at Reclaiming America for Christ Conference 2007

Shared Hope International along with The Defenders www.thedefendersusa.org
will have a booth at the Reclaiming America for Christ Conference 2007 on March 2-3 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Please come see us if you are able.
Click here for more information

Everyday Woman - “From Sexual Slavery to Restoration and Rebirth” by Linda Smith

Everyday Woman -- A new bi-monthly Christian publications focused on women’s issues has asked Shared Hope International to be a regular contributor. Our second submission told the story of Ganga – one of our first girls rescued in Mumbai. Linda shares of Ganga’s healing and miraculous marriage in Christ, a powerful reminder that our work to rescue and restore is making a difference.
Click here to subscribe.

Jim Cates Show (1440 AM, KMAJ) Nov. 3, 2006

Linda was a guest on the Jim Cates show a Kansas Talk radio program that caters to a politically conservative yet secular audience. The program was 45 minutes live. Linda had the opportunity to address Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in America and the work of Shared Hope International. www.jimcates.com

Joy 88.1 FM Nov. 3, 2006

A local Topeka KS Christian radio station talked to Linda about Shared Hope International, Trafficking in America and the Defenders.

World Vision Report Jan. 14, 2007

Radio host Cynthia Graber interviewed Linda about sex trafficking of children in America. Linda addressed such things as the size of problem, where it's happening, how it's happening, who, and how it's being combated. World Vision is a National Christian program.
Click here to listen to the interview

Moody Broadcasting, Prime Time America – Jan. 19, 2007

Shared Hope International's Founder, Linda Smith, talked about the organization's efforts to combat sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children in America. Leading Defender, Vern Smith, from Shared Hope’s partner organization, The Defenders see www.thedefendersusa.org joined Linda and discussed their efforts to combat the harms of the commercial sex industry. In addition, Sid Ford, Executive Director of Y.A.N.A. (You Are Never Alone) an outreach organization for women and children in Baltimore, MD and a partner of Shared Hope, spoke on commercial sexual exploitation of women and children in the U.S.
Click here to find archive broadcasts