Articles By : Beth Clymer
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke
Atlanta is awakening from a long slumber of ignorance to the reality that its children are bought, traded, and sold on busy streets every day. While a long way off from being fully understood by the public, the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) no longer enjoys the cover of secrecy that it did twenty years ago. However, recognizing the crime, while crucially important, is only a part of the rescue system solution: the next step is response.
The statistics about commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) in Atlanta are overwhelming. At least 400 children are being trafficked in Georgia each month. 14 years old is the average age of a CSEC victim. And up to 300,000 children in the U.S alone are at risk of being exploited. It can seem like a daunting problem to take on. However, the Rescue system, a four-step approach to ending CSEC in Atlanta, provides space for everyone in the advocacy movement, from CEOs to crossing guards. CSEC is a business: one that has been named the 3rd largest moneymaker for organized crime. Because it’s a systematic industry, the most effective means to take it down is through a system of our own. The rescue system is comprised of four elements of action: Recognition, Response, Restoration, and Review. Each part is vital to the process of eradicating CSEC, but recognition is the catalyst for all of it. Read More…
