Child Abuse + Sex Trafficking

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and you may be wondering why a counter sex trafficking organization takes the time to draw attention to child abuse.

Previous abuse is one of the key factors that can make someone more vulnerable to being trafficked. Multiple studies estimate that 70-90% of sexually exploited children have a history of child abuse.

These two crimes are so closely related that on May 29, 2015 President Obama signed the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015. This bill amended the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to require states to include sex trafficking within their definitions of child abuse and neglect.

 

1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys will be sexually abused before they reach the age of 18. It is estimated that half of child sexual abuse cases are reported to the police. Male offenders who abuse girls have an average of 52 victims. Those that abuse boys have an average of 105 victims.

Traffickers prey on vulnerable young people. A young person that has already experienced these levels of abuse is a prime target and easier for a predator to manipulate and exploit.

 

Guardian Group’s mission is to prevent and disrupt the sex trafficking of women and children in the United States. Our vision is that every child in the US lives free from sex trafficking. We are seeing this vision come to life as more victims are offered a path to freedom.

 

The Guardian Group team utilizes two most efficient and proven strategies to achieve this mission. Through our own expertise and the help of our crowdsourced volunteer force, we identify women and minors who are victims of domestic sex trafficking nationwide. Our no-cost support to local, state, and federal law enforcement results in increased recovery of these victims.

 

On average it takes an experienced analyst 4 investigative hours to identify a victim of trafficking for law enforcement action.

 

Join Guardian Group during Child Abuse Prevention Month in one of these three ways:

1.Fund an investigative hour.

2. Fund a victim identification.

 

3.Donate your time and expertise as a volunteer through Project 1591.

 

Volunteer Today!
Together we are harnessing the power of many to find the vulnerable.

 

References:

[1] Child Protect. (2020) Facts About Child Abuse. Retrieved from link.

[2] Floric, MaryLee and Matthew Broyles. Sexual Abuse. New York, NY: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 2012.

[3] Doak, Melissa J. Child Abuse and Domestic Violence. New York, NY: Gale Cengage Learning, 2011.