Members: Surviving Parents Coalition (SPC) & National Association to
Protect Children (PROTECT)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Surviving Parents
Coalition (SPC) and National Association to Protect Children (PROTECT)
launched their "Not One More Child" campaign in Washington, D.C. today,
Feb. 7, 2008 with a formal event at the National Press Club. The event was
attended by legislators, law enforcement, and other coalition members. The
"Not One More Child" campaign website, http://www.notonemorechild.org was
introduced, along with a public service announcement focusing on the
exploding crisis of child exploitation. The groups also released law
enforcement maps with data showing hundreds of thousands of criminals who
are currently trafficking in child pornography.
"'Not One More Child' is literally about rescuing children," said Ed
Smart, parent of Elizabeth, president of the Surviving Parents Coalition
and member of the "Not One More Child" Alliance. "The campaign is not only
about child pornography, but about pictures that include perpetrators,
child victims in crime scenes."
Hundreds of thousands of sexual predators are at-large within the U.S.,
and law enforcement has the evidence to locate, arrest and prosecute them,
but officials estimate they are able to investigate less than 2 percent of
known child exploitation offenders, due to lack of resources, primarily
personnel. The "Not One More Child" campaign seeks to break stereotypes
about child pornography, to rally support for immediate federal action, to
spark a national public outcry of "Not One More Child!" and to rescue
thousands of children from sexual abuse and torture.
The necessary funding to rescue thousands of children is less than $2
per child in the U.S. annually. Legislation now before Congress would
increase funding for law enforcement agencies targeting child exploitation.
The bill (HR3845/S1738) passed the House late last year and is now before
the Senate. The "Not One More Child" campaign brings together groups and
individuals who share a mission to protect children. The coalition formed
will move the issue off the shelf and onto the public's agenda.
For three years, technology has been available free to law enforcement
agencies. Using the existing technology, law enforcement can observe
illegal computer activity and then locate the homes and businesses of
hundreds of thousands of criminals in the U.S. who are trafficking in
gruesome images and movies of child rape and torture. Experience shows that
30 to 50 percent of these criminals have sexually assaulted children.
Stopping them now will save hundreds of thousands of children from sexual
assault and exploitation.
About Surviving Parents Coalition and PROTECT
Established in 2007, the Surviving Parents Coalition membership
includes parents who have endured the abduction and sexual assault of a
child, as well as parents whose children are still missing. The coalition's
mission is to empower surviving parents of children who were abducted and
sexually assaulted to work together and present a unified voice for
legislation and prevention education that will maximize efforts to stop
child sexual abuse, exploitation and abduction.
PROTECT, established in 2002, is a grassroots, non-partisan political
lobbying association. The non-profit organization advocates for
nonpartisan, pro-child, anti-crime initiatives including legal advocacy for
child victims, legislative reform and adequate funding for law enforcement
and child protective services.
CONTACTS:
Ria Davidson
Ria Davidson Communications
513/543-1811, Ria@DavidsonPR.com
Media Representative for SPC/PROTECT's Media Event and Trip to D.C. during
the week of Feb. 4, 2008
Mr. Grier Weeks
National Association to Protect Children (PROTECT)
828/230-4836, grierweeks@protect.org
SOURCE Surviving Parents Coalition; PROTECT
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Related links:
http://www.notonemorechild.org
CONTACT:
Ria Davidson of Ria Davidson Communications,
Media Representative for SPC - PROTECT's Media Event and Trip to
D.C. during the week of Feb. 4, 2008 +1-513-543-1811,
Ria@DavidsonPR.com; or Mr. Grier Weeks of National Association to
Protect Children (PROTECT), +1-828-230-4836,
grierweeks@protect.org
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