ECPAT-USA extends its sincere thanks to the Congressional Human Trafficking Caucus, especially co-chairs Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and Congressman Christopher Smith (R-NJ), for sponsoring a briefing on February 18th in Washington, DC, entitled “Child Sex Trafficking in America.” We thank the panel members for sharing their experiences and recommendations to congressional staff and other attendees.

Both Rep. Maloney and Rep. Smith have shown great leadership over the years regarding the issue of human trafficking. Rep. Smith sponsored the groundbreaking Trafficking Victims Authorization Act (TVPA) in 2000 and its first two reauthorizations, working tirelessly to provide the tools we need to combat human trafficking. Additionally, Rep. Smith is sponsor of International Meghan’s Law, H.R.1623, to require certain convicted sex offenders to report their intent to travel overseas. If signed into law, this would be an important tool in protecting foreign children from abuse at the hands of American pedophiles. Rep. Smith is a passionate advocate for human rights in the U.S. and around the world.

Rep. Maloney plans to introduce the House bill companion to the “Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act” (S.2925). She has worked to combat sex trafficking internationally, nationally, and in her New York district for the last 10 years. In 2006 and 2007, she introduced legislation that uses the tax code to prosecute sex traffickers. In 2005, Rep. Maloney and Rep. Deborah Pryce successfully fought to get key provisions of their End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act into the 2005 reauthorization of TVPA. These provisions recognized the crucial role demand plays in the proliferation of sex trafficking and provided tools to curb demand.

This briefing was the second congressional briefing in two months to address child sex trafficking in the U.S. On Wednesday, February 24th at 9am, the Judiciary Committee and Senator Durbin (D-IL) held an informative committee hearing entitled “In Our Own Backyard: Child Prostitution and Sex Trafficking in the United States.” The webcast of the hearing can be viewed here: http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/hearing.cfm?id=4389.  ECPAT-USA commends Senators Durbin and Wyden for their great efforts to increase Senate support and awareness. We are delighted with the attention Congress is giving this bipartisan issue. We hope this attention and their clear concern for children translates into passing S.2925

The 2/18 briefing panel of experts included: Tina Frundt, founder of Courtney’s House, survivor, and service provider; Brian Willis, Health Adviser and Consultant to ECPAT-USA, and Director, Global Health Promise; Sgt. Chris Burchell, Bexar County (Texas) Sheriff's Office; President & CEO of Texas Anti-Trafficking in Persons; Andrew Oosterbaan, Chief, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Criminal Division, US Dept of Justice; Former U.S. Congresswoman Linda Smith (R-WA), Founder and President of Shared Hope International; and Ernie Allen, President, National Center of Missing and Exploited Children.

The panel spoke to a packed room of child advocates and congressional staffers. They focused on what is needed to address the commercial sexual exploitation of children in the United States and how the “Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act”, introduced by Senator Wyden (D-OR) and soon to be introduced in the House, will help. Currently, the Senate bill resides with the Judiciary Committee.

These experts on the commercial sexual exploitation of children testified as to how much more is needed to provide comprehensive services for victims as well as what is required to prosecute traffickers and “johns”. We in the U.S. have a great deal more to do before we can even claim to have “turned a corner,” as Andrew Oosterbaan reminded the attendees. He provided an overview on how expensive the investigation and prosecution of traffickers can be. Mr. Oosterbaan testified to the trauma children suffer at the hands of their traffickers. These children require experts who know how to gain the trust of a child who has been made to believe trusting police is that last thing she should do.

Twenty years ago, there were no real support systems in place to help victims of domestic violence. Today, a range of support services are available all over the U.S. Sgt. Burchell pointed out that the struggle to provide comprehensive assistance to child victims of sexual exploitation must seek to end up with the same infrastructure we now provide to victims of domestic violence. He challenged the attendees to make the “Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act” just the beginning of many great efforts to create that victims support system.

Demand drives the trafficking of children. Without demand, there would be no victims. Former Congresswoman Linda Smith strongly called for efforts to end the demand of children for sexual purposes. She informed the attendees of work being done in her home state of Washington to fight demand. The “Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Assistance Act” also offers funding support to efforts aimed at combating demand.

The needs of commercially sexually exploited children are deep and intense. Brian Willis offered detailed information on the health issues facing these victims: physical injuries, sexually transmitted infections, multiple and unhealthy pregnancies, drug addiction, and mental health problems. These issues require comprehensive care and that care costs money. He reminded us that we as a society are already paying for the costs of these problems and that prevention is crucial. Sadly, Mr. Willis also explained how exploited children are often looked down upon by healthcare providers in hospitals and clinics.

Tina Frundt explained that, much like with foreign victims of sex trafficking, domestic victims often have their official documents taken away. Without a government identification document, accessing the healthcare that is available through our government programs is nearly impossible for child victims. Ms. Frundt also shared some details about the work Courtney’s House does to help commercially sexually exploited youth.

Ernie Allen briefed the attendees on the work being done to recover commercially sexually exploited children. He asked Congress to “urge states to enact laws ensuring that these children are treated as victims and not perpetrators.” He cited Safe Harbor as an example of how states can protect children from being treated as criminals. When law enforcement rescues a child, they have nowhere to place the child for comprehensive services needed to recover from trauma. . He called on Congress and the states to “expand resources and services available for the victims.”