‘We are just getting started’: The fight against child exploitation in Northeast Florida
NE Florida fights child exploitation. Here's how the battle is going St. Augustine Record
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The Northeast Florida Inter-Agency Child Exploitation and Persons Trafficking Task Force (NEFL INTERCEPT)
Northeast Florida law enforcement officers and local leaders recently announced the first-year findings of the Northeast Florida Inter-Agency Child Exploitation and Persons Trafficking Task Force (NEFL INTERCEPT).
The NEFL INTERCEPT is a public/private partnership working at local, state, and federal levels. Agencies involved include Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville; the sheriffs’ offices of St. Johns, Clay, Putnam, Nassau, and Duval counties; the U.S. Attorney’s Office; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE); and nonprofit organizations.
- Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville
- Sheriffs’ offices of St. Johns, Clay, Putnam, Nassau, and Duval counties
- U.S. Attorney’s Office
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)
- Nonprofit organizations
Nonprofits, such as Operation Light Shine and the Tim Tebow Foundation, provide resources to NEFL INTERCEPT Task Force members fighting human trafficking and child exploitation.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The NEFL INTERCEPT Task Force aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations:
- No Poverty
- Zero Hunger
- Good Health and Well-being
- Quality Education
- Gender Equality
- Clean Water and Sanitation
- Affordable and Clean Energy
- Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- Reduced Inequalities
- Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Responsible Consumption and Production
- Climate Action
- Life Below Water
- Life on Land
- Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- Partnerships for the Goals
According to a statement issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, human traffickers target the vulnerable and use force, fraud, or coercion to obtain labor or commercial sex acts.
“They sexually exploit children from online enticement to distributing child sexual abuse material, sextortion, and sharing photos or videos,” they said. “Offenders who traffic these photos and video files across the internet and dark web re-victimize the child each time the images of their abuse are shared.”
During a recent press conference hosted by Sheriff Robert Hardwick and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Attorney for Florida’s Middle District, Roger Handberg, underscored his appreciation for the collaborative effort made by the NEFL INTERCEPT Task Force. It has yielded 583 investigations and 85 search warrants served, along with hundreds of related subpoenas for records.
In 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children issued 663 cyber-tips leading NEFL INTERCEPT Task Force members to examine 224 electronic devices (6.3 million images and videos) revealing 75,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse. Thirty-one arrests were made along with 16 indictments and 21 convictions, with 18 of those convicted sentenced to a total of 148 years in prison, including one life sentence.
“My office has had the privilege of working with the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force to protect victims and bring offenders to justice,” Handberg said. “There’s much that I can say about the dedication of the investigators and prosecutors who tackle these disturbing and often heartbreaking cases. But
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 5: Gender Equality
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres
- Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months
-
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor
- Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group
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SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
- Indicator 16.2.3: Proportion of young women and men aged 18-29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18
Analysis
The article discusses the work of the Northeast Florida Inter-Agency Child Exploitation and Persons Trafficking Task Force (NEFL INTERCEPT), which addresses issues related to human trafficking and child exploitation. Based on the content of the article, the following SDGs, targets, and indicators can be identified:
SDG 5: Gender Equality
The issue of human trafficking and child exploitation involves violence against women and girls. SDG 5 aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in the public and private spheres. The target 5.2 specifically addresses this issue by aiming to eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls. The indicator 5.2.1 can be used to measure progress towards this target by tracking the proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
The issue of human trafficking involves forced labor and modern slavery. SDG 8 aims to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor. The target 8.7 specifically addresses this issue by calling for immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor. The indicator 8.7.1 can be used to measure progress towards this target by tracking the proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The issue of human trafficking and child exploitation involves abuse, exploitation, and trafficking of children. SDG 16 aims to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. The target 16.2 specifically addresses this issue by aiming to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. The indicator 16.2.3 can be used to measure progress towards this target by tracking the proportion of young women and men aged 18-29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres | Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor | Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | Indicator 16.2.3: Proportion of young women and men aged 18-29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18 |
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Source: staugustine.com
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