FHI 360’s Post

World: Children born of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and rights to Identity The Global Survivors Fund has released its outcome report based on an Expert Roundtable on Children born of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: Breaking down Barriers to the Rights to #Identity and #Nationality that took place in June 2023. This outcome report includes a unique examination into the multiple challenges faced by these children and provides reflection on overcoming these barriers as well as ongoing initiatives. It is based on inputs during the roundtable and following discussions, desk research, and GSF’s Global Reparations Study (https://lnkd.in/dZgWFACc). Child Identity Protection (CHIP) had the privilege to be part of the Expert Roundtable presenting on birth registration highlighting challenges such as registration costs, access to civil registries in remote locations, requirement of a marriage certificate and only men being able to be informants. CHIP welcomes the focus of solutions for #children born in these situations, who face compounding challenges.

What Are the Real Numbers for Sex-Trafficking of Children In the United States?   The answer to this question is no one really knows the number of sex-trafficked children in the United States.    The number one questions asked of us is; “How do you receive the children? Do you go out and find them yourselves?” The answer is no we do not recover the children. Even through we could, there is a process one must follow. A law enforcement agency investigates a drug dealer. Recently, a Chinese Tong Drug dealer. Upon raiding the drug dealer, they discover minor children this dealer was sex-trafficking. In this case, Chinese National children. Once the trafficked children are processed, within a few hours, they are turned over to Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS). DHS then interview these children to see if there are relatives they can be released to. If not, they are sent to a foster care home. If there is an opening, some can be sent to one or two non-profit facilities we have in Oklahoma.   At number two the question is how are the children introduced to the trafficking? There are many ways this could happen. Social media, a trusted friend at school, homeless teen picked up off the street, child sold or trafficked by their parents. Kidnapping the victims does happen but is less likely depending on extenuating circumstances. From our “on the ground” sources, Native American children are more likely kidnapped. Why is this? Multi jurisdictions being involved, unclear if a city or county officer can investigate sex-trafficking on a reservation or in Oklahoma’s case Sovereign Nation. One Sovereign Nation’s police agency is superb and another is not up to the task at hand.   Number three question; “How many children are trafficked in Oklahoma each year?” Interesting question. You can check multi sources on the Internet and you will find multi wide ranging answers. One factor is the Native American population is 2.6 percent, and yet they have a 30 to 40 percent child sex-trafficking rate. What does this equate to? We do not know for sure. Multi jurisdictions pops up once again. There is a wide rang of statistical numbers for sex-trafficking of children in Oklahoma. All the way from four a year to seventy-seven. The a more realistic number is 252 children from age one through seventeen. Yes, one year old babies. https://lnkd.in/gGeyibHH   For us at 401-Kids Inc. as well as Oklahoma County Sheriff Office, Oklahoma City and Tulsa Police Departments, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and Oklahoma State Attorney General’s Office, we are in this fight to save a life and a soul. Be safe out there my Brothers and Sisters. Evil is afoot.  

Some #thursdaythoughts from Reena Parmar with which to enlighten your day.

The digital world is becoming increasingly unsafe for children and young people. Latest Childlight data suggests more than 300 million children a year face sexual abuse online. In the last year alone, one in eight of the world’s children have been victims of non-consensual sharing and exposure to sexual images and videos. Child abuse material is so prevalent that one case of abuse is reported every second. To combat the growing threats in the digital space, Safe Online launched a global call for proposals in 2023. We're exceptionally proud and extremely excited to be one of Safe Online 's 23 new grantees. Child Helpline International –in partnership with seven of our child helpline members in Africa – will support child helplines' capabilities to tackle online child sexual exploitation and abuse. By upgrading infrastructure, training, raising awareness, fostering partnerships and conducting research, we will enhance child helpline accessibility and service quality, and elevate community awareness. Read more about all of Safe Online's grantees, and their innovative projects, here: https://lnkd.in/gtakYVBt #SafeOnline #SafeOnlineGrantees #ChildHelplines #EveryChildHasAVoice

Our new Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group briefing reveals alarming data on the support children turning 18 in the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) receive. New Freedom of Information data obtained by fellow member Snowdrop Project highlights critical gaps in support for child victims of #Trafficking and #ModernSlavery as they turn 18 including the consent process and support to make informed decisions regarding the National Referral Mechanism. Children do not need to provide consent to being referred to the National Referral Mechanism as potential child victims of trafficking, until they turn 18. ➡ In 2022, 2,634 children turned 18 while awaiting an NRM decision. ➡ In 2022, 70 % of children turning 18 either withdrew or were suspended from the NRM. The briefing sets out a series of important recommendations for policy makers and highlights an urgent need for systemic reforms to protect vulnerable young people. You can read the full briefing here: https://shorturl.at/rAR34 https://lnkd.in/eEm3dcCE

U.S. Marshals find 200 missing children in nationwide operation The children found included 173 near-death runaways and a 5-month-old baby. The U.S. Department of Justice announced July 1 that the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) found 200 missing children, including sex trafficking victims, abused children and runaways, during a six-week nationwide operation. One of the most sacred missions of the U.S. Marshals Service is to locate and recover our nation's critically missing children," said U.S. Marshals Service Administrator Ronald Davis. This is one of our top priorities, as thousands of children remain missing and at risk." Of the children recovered, 173 were dangerous runaways, one child was abducted by a family member, one child was abducted by a non-family member, and 25 children are missing. The youngest child was a 5-month-old baby. Story continues below advertisement From May 20 to June 24, the U.S. Department of Justice, in conjunction with federal, state and local agencies, conducted "Operation We Will Find You 2". The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) provided technical assistance for the operation. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Operation We Will Find You 2 is the second nationwide missing children's initiative that focuses on geographic areas where seriously missing children are concentrated. The trial was conducted in the District of Arizona, the Eastern District of California, the Southern District of Florida, the Western District of Michigan, the Eastern District of North Carolina, the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and the District of Oregon.#Prevention of abuse and neglect #Mental health education #school education