A Future. Not a Past. (Georgia)

Survivors say that the problem of child sex trafficking is more widespread than the public realizes. When they speak out, it is in the hope that their stories will help bring awareness and a face to the problem.

Every month in Georgia, more than 300 girls are sexually trafficked. Their pimps may force them to look the part, but they are children and they need to be rescued. YouthSpark coordinator Jennifer Swain says at-risk girls can be saved.

While a public outcry led Craigslist to shut down sex ads, the business shifted to Backpage.com, “the new super highway of sex”. Backpage invited ABC reporters to visit their office, and claimed that they examine every ad and turn in about 400 ads to national investigators every month. Nonetheless, they make tens of millions of [...]

Recently, Utah hosted a symposium on the sexual exploitation of children. Among other things, the symposium discussed ways to increase the public’s awareness about children in the commercial sex industry, to target demand, and to providing help and support for victims attempting to leave their exploiters (pimps).

Wheeler High School students Cameron Harris and Karina Perez are organizing a “Breaking the Shackles” concert to benefit the victims of child sex trafficking in the Atlanta area. The proceeds from the concert will go to A Future. Not a Past. to aid their efforts in the fight against the sexual exploitation of children.

Focus Atlanta recently examined the vital efforts in Atlanta to prevent the sexual trafficking of children. Interviewees included youthSpark’s Jennifer Swain.  

Meeting planner Kimberly Ritter was shocked to realize that she could recognize hotel rooms used to sexually traffic minors from the backgrounds in ads appearing on Backpage.com. Ritter now uses her expertise in the hospitality industry to help fight sexual trafficking in hotels.