For many children around the world, their early years are far from the safe, supportive environment they require to give them the best possible start in life. As well as the threats from poverty, disease, violence and war, children
face commercial exploitation by adults.
More than two million children are enslaved in the global commercial sex trade, and alarmingly US tourists account for quarter of child sex tourists worldwide.
Sexual exploitation is a terrible thing. These children are severely wounded physically and emotionally. Many acquire diseases such as HIV/AIDS, and almost all experience rejection by their families and communities in addition to fear, shame and despair.
Congress passed The Protect Act of 2003 that made it illegal to sexually exploit children overseas. However, this a global problem that cannot be solved by just making it illegal. Without increased resources to support efforts to identify and prosecute perpetrators sex trafficking
of children will continue.
Help give children the best possible start in life - ask Congress to increase resources to combat child sex tourism.
