Reader Lisa sent over information on the group "Not One More Child Coalition", and I thought it was worth sharing with you. For more information, please see their website.
The Surviving Parents Coalition (SPC) and National Association to Protect Children (PROTECT) launched their "Not One More Child" campaign in Washington, D.C. today, Feb. 7, 2008, with a formal event at the National Press Club. The event was attended by legislators, law enforcement, and other coalition members. The "Not One More Child" campaign website, www.notonemorechild.org was introduced, along with a public service announcement focusing on the exploding crisis of child exploitation. The groups also released law enforcement maps with data showing hundreds of thousands of criminals who are currently trafficking in child pornography.
"'Not One More Child' is literally about rescuing children," said Ed Smart, parent of Elizabeth, president of the Surviving Parents Coalition and member of the "Not One More Child" Alliance. "The campaign is not only about child pornography, but about pictures that include perpetrators, child victims in crime scenes."
Hundreds of thousands of sexual predators are at-large within the U.S., and law enforcement has the evidence to locate, arrest and prosecute them, but officials estimate they are able to investigate less than 2 percent of known child exploitation offenders, due to lack of resources, primarily personnel.
The "Not One More Child" campaign seeks to break stereotypes about child pornography, to rally support for immediate federal action, to spark a national public outcry of "Not One More Child!" and to rescue thousands of children from sexual abuse and torture.
The necessary funding to rescue thousands of children is less than $2 per child in the U.S. annually. Legislation now before Congress would increase funding for law enforcement agencies targeting child exploitation. The bill (HR3845/S1738) passed the House late last year and is now before the Senate. The "Not One More Child" campaign brings together groups and individuals who share a mission to protect children. The coalition formed will move the issue off the shelf and onto the public's agenda.
For three years, technology has been available free to law enforcement agencies. Using the existing technology, law enforcement can observe illegal computer activity and then locate the homes and businesses of hundreds of thousands of criminals in the U.S. who are trafficking in gruesome images and movies of child rape and torture. Experience shows that 30 to 50 percent of these criminals have sexually assaulted children. Stopping them now will save hundreds of thousands of children from sexual assault and exploitation.
About Surviving Parents Coalition and PROTECT
Established in 2007, the Surviving Parents Coalition membership includes parents who have endured the abduction and sexual assault of a child, as well as parents whose children are still missing. The coalition's mission is to empower surviving parents of children who were abducted and sexually assaulted to work together and present a unified voice for legislation and prevention education that will maximize efforts to stop child sexual abuse, exploitation and abduction.
PROTECT, established in 2002, is a grassroots, non-partisan political lobbying association. The non-profit organization advocates for nonpartisan, pro-child, anti-crime initiatives including legal advocacy for child victims, legislative reform and adequate funding for law enforcement and child protective services.
Comments