Report on Transnational Child Exploitation Case and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Case Summary: United States vs. William James Purdy

A federal indictment has been issued against William James Purdy, a 28-year-old U.S. citizen from West Valley City, Utah, on charges of child exploitation. The case highlights significant challenges and necessary actions related to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning justice, child protection, education, and well-being.

• Subject: William James Purdy
• Charges: Federal indictment for sexual abuse of minors.
• Location of Alleged Crimes: Kingdom of Tonga.
• Jurisdiction of Prosecution: United States, District of Utah.

Violations of SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The case is a direct affront to SDG Target 16.2: “End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.” The alleged actions undermine the fundamental right of children to live free from fear and violence, a cornerstone of peaceful and just societies.

Chronology of Events and Institutional Response

1. 2017: Purdy allegedly began sexually abusing multiple minors while serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tonga.
2. Late 2019: After returning to Tonga as a teacher, Purdy allegedly groomed and abused numerous male students, exploiting a position of trust. The methods reportedly involved providing gifts, food, and money, leveraging economic disparity to facilitate exploitation.
3. 2022: Following a report from an 8-year-old victim, Purdy was arrested in Tonga. He was subsequently released from jail, during which time the abuse allegedly continued, indicating a lapse in local institutional protective measures.
4. March 2023: Purdy fled Tonga under a different identity to avoid trial, demonstrating a clear attempt to evade justice.
5. July 24, 2025: Purdy was arrested in Pennsylvania, USA, following a federal indictment.

The subsequent U.S.-led investigation, involving Homeland Security Investigations and the Diplomatic Security Service in cooperation with Tongan authorities, exemplifies the international cooperation required under SDG 16 to combat transnational crime and ensure accountability.

Compromising Foundational Sustainable Development Goals

The perpetrator’s actions created cascading negative impacts across multiple SDGs, demonstrating how the exploitation of children fundamentally obstructs sustainable development.

SDG 4: Quality Education

• The alleged abuse occurred within an educational context, where Purdy was a teacher. This represents a severe violation of SDG Target 4.a, which calls for “safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.”
• By turning a school into a site of exploitation, the case undermines the trust essential for quality education and jeopardizes children’s access to safe learning spaces.

SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

• Economic Exploitation: The alleged use of gifts, food, money, and internet access as tools for grooming points to the exploitation of socio-economic vulnerabilities, a barrier addressed by SDG 1.
• Health Impacts: The severe and lasting trauma inflicted by sexual abuse is a direct assault on SDG 3, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, with a specific focus on mental health.

Investigation and Path Forward

The ongoing investigation has identified 14 minor victims across Tonga. The case is being advanced under Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. national initiative aimed at combating child exploitation. As stated by Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti, “The Justice Department is committed to securing justice for children exploited overseas when these heinous acts are committed by Americans.” This commitment is crucial for upholding the principles of the SDGs on a global scale, ensuring that perpetrators cannot use international borders to escape accountability for violating the rights and well-being of children.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article’s central theme is crime and the pursuit of justice for child exploitation. It details the investigation, arrest, and indictment of an individual for heinous crimes against children, directly aligning with the goal of promoting just and inclusive societies. The cooperation between the U.S. and Tongan authorities exemplifies the goal’s emphasis on building effective and accountable institutions at all levels.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• While the identified victims are male, SDG 5 aims to eliminate all forms of violence and exploitation against all people. Target 5.2 specifically addresses ending sexual exploitation. The sexual abuse of children, regardless of gender, is a form of gender-based violence rooted in power imbalances and is a critical issue addressed by this goal.

SDG 1: No Poverty

• The article implies a connection to this goal by describing the perpetrator’s methods. It states he “provided gifts, including electronic devices and access to the internet, food, toys, and money, in exchange for the performance of sexual acts.” This suggests the exploitation of the children’s potential economic vulnerability, a factor often linked to poverty, making them more susceptible to such grooming and abuse.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Under SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children. The article is entirely focused on this target. It describes the “sexually abusing minors,” “grooming and sexually abusing numerous male students,” and the overall effort to “combat child exploitation.” The identification of “14 minor victims” is a direct reference to the victims of such violence and exploitation.
• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The legal actions taken—including the initial arrest in Tonga, the federal indictment in the U.S., and the ongoing investigation—are efforts to apply the rule of law. The statement that the “Justice Department is committed to securing justice for children exploited overseas” underscores the aim of ensuring access to justice for the victims.
• Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation… to prevent violence and combat… crime. The article explicitly mentions that the case is “being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Diplomatic Security Service with the help of Tongan police and prosecutors.” This is a clear example of international cooperation between national institutions to combat a transnational crime.

Under SDG 5: Gender Equality

• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including… sexual and other types of exploitation. The case of sexual abuse detailed in the article is a form of sexual violence and exploitation. Although the victims are boys, the target’s principle of eliminating sexual exploitation is directly relevant to the crimes described.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article contains specific data and qualitative information that can serve as or contribute to official SDG indicators.

• For Target 16.2: The article provides a specific number that can be used for indicators measuring violence against children, such as Indicator 16.2.2 (Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age and form of exploitation). The text explicitly states, “Investigators have identified 14 minor victims throughout Tonga.” This is a direct quantitative measure of the extent of the crime in this specific case.
• For Target 16.3: Progress towards the rule of law is indicated by the legal actions taken. The “federal indictment” of the perpetrator and his arrest are concrete actions that demonstrate the justice system is functioning to hold criminals accountable. These actions serve as qualitative indicators of the enforcement of laws.
• For Target 16.a: The institutional cooperation is a direct indicator. The mention of a joint investigation involving “Homeland Security Investigations and the Diplomatic Security Service with the help of Tongan police and prosecutors” is a qualitative indicator of strengthened international cooperation to combat crime.
• For Target 5.2: The identification of “14 minor victims” of sexual abuse by a non-partner (a teacher) provides data relevant to Indicator 5.2.2 (Proportion of women and girls… subjected to sexual violence by persons other than an intimate partner). While the victims’ gender differs from the indicator’s text, the data on the prevalence of sexual violence is directly applicable to the broader goal.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: kjzz.com