A Future. Not A Past. – the Juvenile Justice Fund’s campaign to stop the prostitution of children in Georgia – asks all area runners and walkers to participate in its 2nd Annual “7200 Steps to Stop Demand 5K,” to be held Saturday, October 1 at 8:30 a.m. in Candler Park. AFNAP is again opening this event to the public and hopes it will unite individuals in a common goal: to reduce the number of men who engage in sex with prostituted adolescents.
In a 2010 study commissioned by AFNAP, an independent research firm found that 7,200 men knowingly or unknowingly engage in sexual acts with young trafficked girls every month in the state of Georgia. Organizers will use money raised at the October 5K to sustain demand reduction strategies.
“We hope this event will again unite community members in saying to men who participate in the commercial sexual exploitation of our girls that their behavior will not be tolerated,” says Kaffie McCullough, AFNAP campaign director.
In addition to the event itself, attendees will be asked to participate in a mass “planking” in opposition to human trafficking – viewed by many as modern day slavery. Plankers will be asked to lie on their backs, side-by-side, in a moment of silence for the estimated 400-plus girls prostituted in Georgia each month.
“Though the fad of face-down ‘planking’ is not directly related to slavery, as rumor has it, we will be using an alternate planking position, which was, in fact, commonly used to transport slaves on ships – tightly packed, side-by-side and face up,” says McCullough. “As slavery was a terrible crime of the past, modern day sex slavery – which many young girls experience at the hands of pimps and buyers – is a crime that must be fought by all today.”
Georgia has some of the nation’s toughest laws to punish criminals convicted of the prostitution of children and human trafficking. If caught with a minor, johns – or buyers – can be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison, according to Georgia law. And under the recently signed HB 200, penalties for human traffickers include the possibility of life in prison if the victim is under 18, as well as a new range of fines up to $100,000.
“Our hope is this event will increase awareness about penalties men can incur, thus decreasing the estimated 7,200 men buying sex with young girls each month,” says McCullough. “By walking or running, participants will contribute to decreasing demand – and ultimately will save minor victims of sex trafficking.”
Interested runners/walkers can access registration information online at www.afuturenotapast.org or www.active.com. Money can be raised through pledges or through a one-time donation of $20 before the Sept 26. Early bird deadline, or $25 after. Registration includes a “Steps to Stop” T-shirt and access to after walk activities. Day-of registrations are accepted, and registration will open at 7:30 a.m. the morning of Oct. 1 at Mary Lin Elementary (586 Candler Park Drive NE).
Almost 300 individuals participated in last year’s inaugural run, raising nearly $15,000 for the cause. For more information on the Oct. 1, 2011 event, please visit www.afuturenotapast.org or email questions to info@afuturenotapast.org.
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