On July 24th, 2013 a declaration by Congress and
47 State Attorneys General communicated their intention to amend the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) and the Communications Decency Act
(CDA) to clarify laws and remove legal loopholes which allow pimps and Johns to
escape legal sanctions.
Internet content providers such as Backpage.com have
provided an online market space for child prostitution up till now protected by
the Communications Decency Act.
The Attorneys General have communicated with Congress requesting jurisdiction
to investigate and prosecute those who promote trafficking of children online
by amending the CDA.
Several Representatives in Congress are submitting bills
that permit prosecution of “Johns” in an effort to punish and diminish the
demand side of sex trafficking of children. Additionally these bills call on
the U.S. Attorney General to engage the efforts of existing anti sex
trafficking task forces to increase the investigative capabilities and power of
state and local law enforcement to prosecute the purchasers of sex with
children.
Shared Hope International has been an important voice of
advocacy for these changes in our legal code which will provide additional
important weapons in the fight against child sex trafficking.
Richard Lazere on behalf of East Portland Rotary task force
against H.T.
