During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Spanberger, Fitzpatrick, Owens Reintroduce Child Rescue Act to Crack Down on Child Exploitation & Abuse – Abigail Spanberger
During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Spanberger, Fitzpatrick, Owens Reintroduce Child Rescue Act to ... Abigail Spanberger
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The “Child Rescue Act” Would Create a National Commission to Study Proactive Policing Strategies, Identify Resources to Rescue Children From Sexual Exploitation & Abuse
Introduction
U.S. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), and Burgess Owens (R-UT-04) have reintroduced bipartisan legislation aimed at strengthening federal efforts to rescue children from sexual exploitation and abuse.
The Issue
The sexual exploitation and abuse of children is an epidemic in the United States. In 2023, technology companies reported over 105 million online images, videos, and other data files related to the online exploitation of children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline. The increasing use of AI-generated child sexual abuse material is overwhelming the CyberTipline, making it more difficult for law enforcement to investigate crimes and identify children in need of rescue.
The Child Rescue Act
The bipartisan Child Rescue Act proposes the creation of a national commission by the U.S. Attorney General. This commission would study proactive policing strategies and identify the necessary resources to locate and rescue children from sexual exploitation and abuse. It would bring together experts from the federal government, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as well as the private sector. The goal is to develop a nationwide strategy and determine the best response to the evolving landscape of child abuse in the country.
Importance of the Legislation
Representative Spanberger emphasizes that protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse should be a top priority for Congress and the federal government. While local child protective services, law enforcement officers, and nonprofit organizations are working tirelessly to combat these crimes, they are not equipped to handle an epidemic of this magnitude. The Child Rescue Act would require the federal government to implement a focused, coordinated strategy to aid in the rescue of children across the United States from abusive and neglectful situations.
Support and Endorsements
The Child Rescue Act has garnered support from various child protection and anti-exploitation advocacy organizations, including the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), National Center on Sexual Exploitation, National District Attorneys Association, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), National Children’s Alliance, and Rights4Girls. These organizations recognize the significance of the legislation in safeguarding children from exploitation and abuse.
Statements from Supporters
- Stefan Turkheimer, Vice President for Public Policy, RAINN: “Today marks a significant step in our mission to safeguard children from exploitation. As an organization dedicated to ending this injustice, RAINN enthusiastically endorses the Child Rescue Act.”
- Dawn Hawkins, CEO, National Center on Sexual Exploitation: “Child sexual abuse is already horrific, and yet it is magnified when it spreads online. Our country’s leaders must confront this scourge by finding solutions to stop the spread of CSAM, including addressing issues such as instances when technology companies refuse to respond to law enforcement.”
- Nelson Bunn, Executive Director, National District Attorneys Association: “The Child Rescue Act is a pivotal enhancement to our efforts in protecting children from exploitation and abuse. By establishing a national working group and focusing on both proactive strategies and necessary resources, prosecutors will be better equipped to handle these complex cases.”
- Shaun Dougherty, Board President, SNAP: “Children do not have a vote, so it is up to adults to support laws that protect them. This is particularly true of sexually trafficked children and those depicted in child pornography.”
Background
In 2008, the PROTECT Our Children Act was signed into law, requiring the U.S. Attorney General to create and implement a National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction. However, only three of the seven required reports have been developed since then. Proactive investigation of child abuse imagery to find dual offenders has declined since 2008, making it increasingly challenging for U.S. law enforcement agencies to prioritize and respond to the growing number of CyberTips related to online abuse.
Reporting Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect
Anyone can report suspected child abuse or neglect to the ChildHelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 800-422-4453, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Bill Text
Click here for the full text of the Child Rescue Act.
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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
The issues highlighted in the article are related to child sexual exploitation and abuse, which are violations of children’s rights and require strong institutions and gender equality to address effectively.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation
The article discusses the need to strengthen federal efforts to rescue children from sexual exploitation and abuse, which aligns with the targets mentioned above.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Number of online images, videos, and data files reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline
- Number of proactive policing strategies studied and implemented
- Resources allocated for locating and rescuing children from sexual exploitation and abuse
- Number of cases investigated and children rescued from abusive situations
The article mentions the increasing number of online images, videos, and data files reported to the CyberTipline, which can be used as an indicator of the prevalence of child sexual exploitation. The creation of a national commission to study proactive policing strategies and allocate resources for rescuing children also implies the use of indicators to measure progress in these areas.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children |
|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation |
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Fuente: spanberger.house.gov
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