Susan Sarandon Campaigns Against Prosecution Of Child Sex Slaves

Susan Sarandon has joined other celebrities and activists -- including Somaly Mam, a sexual slavery survivor and major force in the fight against child prostitution -- in calling for legislative action to protect children forced into sexual slavery.

Though children under the age of 16 cannot legally consent to sex anywhere in the U.S., they can still currently be sentenced to juvenile hall for prostitution. Without the protection of Safe Harbor laws, children involved in the commercial sex trade can be prosecuted for their own abuse and exploitation in almost every U.S. state. Only N.Y., Conn., Ill. and Wash. state have put in place protective sanctions around children under 16 to keep them from being criminally charged with prostitution.

With the aid of actress Susan Sarandon and activist Somaly Mam, The Body Shop and End Child Prostitution And Trafficking (ECPAT-USA) have teamed up to push the remaining 46 states to enact their own Safe Harbor laws. They have already collected over 9,000 signatures on their online petition.

In addition to signing the petition, the campaign asks supporters to purchase The Body Shop's Soft Hands Kind Heart hand cream. A portion of the proceeds from the sales will go directly to ECPAT.

To learn more about the trafficking of both women and children, visit ECPAT-USA or the Somaly Mam Foundation.

Comments

[AristophanesJones]

12:45 PM on 08/05/2010

As is typical of standard American social conservatism, laws originating from anti-sex hysteria end up hurting those most in need of protection.

[LeeCalif]

10:59 AM on 08/04/2010

Leave it to the US to be oxymoronic about child prostitution.

This has got to be changed by us.

[Dmacc502]

10:20 AM on 08/04/2010

I have seen girls 16 and 17 that have drug addictions already and alcohol problems. At this point these girls choose to continue the lifestyle with no desire to leave. We do need to catch them before this happens. If prosecution and confinement for a short time to possibly rehab, it might help, but no, I'm not for throwing these "children" in jail.

[Monk2001]

12:14 PM on 08/04/2010

"At this point these girls choose to continue the lifestyle with no desire to leave"

Yes. One way to make a child complicit is to get them addicted to drugs (alcohol is a drug). Then when they are 17 and still addicted, because it was forced on them, they don't stop doing what they are doing. Because they have no education and trust no one it is probably easy for them to leave but they "OBVIOUSLY?" have no "desire" to.

Not to mention that after years of sexual trauma, suffered throughout their ENTIRE CHILDHOOD!!!!!!! they only seem to find happiness in their addiction, which is both physical and mental by the way.

But you're right. Prosecute the children who are abused and exploited to "Confine" them for a "Short time" which would be completely reletive and could end up being upwards of a year. That makes sense. Make the victims feel like it's their fault they've been raped 1000's of times thoughtout their childhood. .

You really have no idea what you're talking about.

[thejobe]

02:50 PM on 08/04/2010

yes we need to catch these children but not to prosecute...to save! Major psychological treatment and care is the answer, not imprisonment or traditional rehab

[MexiChick67]

12:26 AM on 08/04/2010

Most children who are prostituting under the age of 18 (age of consent) are most likely being put out there by an adult male. I live in Sacramento, CA and children as young as 11 years old are out turning tricks and being put in juvenile hall and CHARGED! Why?!?! The 'johns' need to be sought out, jailed, & registered as predators. Then go after the 'pimps / child abusers' who usually sweet talk runaways into their homes and out of the street. Soon these children are told that they have to go work for their keep. I know this because a girl in my son's 7th grade class had run away and was found after being arrested for prostitution! We live in a sick society.

[smp501]

08:49 PM on 08/03/2010

I'm just curious here. Has anyone ACTUALLY ever prosecuted an abused child for prostitution in the US, or is this just a potential loophole that someone found? I can't really imagine a prosecutor or judge REALLY pursuing such a thing.

[Dmacc502]

10:17 AM on 08/04/2010

A great question, can someone answer.??