Saving our daughters....

Today, my sweet girl turns 4. She is being showered with all the typical American birthday "things". Gifts, a new outfit, special meals of her choice. On Saturday, she is having a birthday party with over 30 people attending, to celebrate HER.

Today, all around the world, girls just like my daughter are being sold into the sex trade and exploited. Girls, just like my daughter, whose parents want them to have a better life. Who, for a mere $100 think they are doing well by them, not realizing the atrocity their lives are going to turn into.

The domestic statistics are beyond alarming:

• 300,000 children in the U.S. are at risk every year for commercial sexual exploitation. -U.S. Department of Justice

• 600,000 – 800,000 people are bought and sold across international borders each year; 50% are children, most are female. The majority of these victims are forced into the commercial sex trade. – U.S. Department of State, 2004, Trafficking in Persons Report, Washington, D.C.

• An estimated 14,500 to 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked into the United States each year. The number of U.S. citizens trafficked within the country is even higher, with an estimated 200,000 American children at risk for trafficking into the sex industry. – U.S Department of Justice Report to Congress from Attorney General John Ashcroft on U.S. Government Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons

• An estimated 2.5 million children, the majority of them girls, are sexually exploited in the multibillion dollar commercial sex industry – UNICEF

• Investigators and researchers estimate the average predator in the U.S. can make more than $200,000 a year off one young girl. – NBC Report by Teri Williams

  
  

  
  

  The difference between my sweet girl, and the sweet girls all over the world? Luck? No. Lack of love? No. What is it? I can't say I honestly know. Latitude and longitude? Maybe. But, no longer will those girls not have a voice. Stand up, shout out. Scream if you have to. Because, if it was my daughter, you'd better believe I'd be screaming. And those girls are someones daughters. Be the voice they don't have.

  
  

Scream for the Innocent

Sex trafficking. It's the elephant in the room. Or not. Do you know it's even there? Everyday, ALL around the world, children, and young women are being exploited and sold into the sex trade. And, sadly, you are mistaken if you think it's not happening in your backyard. Even sadder, Craigslist is giving the sick monsters who "sell" these innocent victims a FREE platform** with which to do it. I'd like to ask Jim Buckmaster (CEO of Craigslist) if HE has a daughter.

SCREAM FOR THE INNOCENT. These people are voiceless. They are young, vulnerable. They are blonde, brunette, have freckles. They are just like my children. Just like YOUR children. Think for a nano-second about what you'd do if you thought there was a chance it could be your children sold into this industry. Got it? Ok, now do SOMETHING. Read this open letter to the CEO of Craigslist. Sign the petition. As my sweet friend Lindsey said, "a car manufacturer has problems with production and it incites Congressional hearings. Come on, America!!! Open your eyes!". Here are some articles about the facts.

I am asking you to think about this. Really. Pray. What can you do? I am doing the same. I am giving money every month to help girls in Moldova that are rescued from the sex trade. Here's where you can get more info about what Hopechest is doing in Moldova. I encourage you to look. Please look. Every little bit really DOES help.

"Once our eyes have been opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do..."

**Post script edit--The platform isn't free for posting pornographic ads to Craigslist, it's just easy. No, C-list is making MILLIONS on this. Millions on the sale of childrens bodies. Millions.