Sign the Susan Sarondon & Body Shop USA "Safe Harbor" Petition

Those of you who frequent this blog know that I'm a BIG fan of petitions. They are an effective ways to combat trafficking by changing laws, business policies and bringer greater awareness and pressure against traffickers. Susan Sarandon and the Body Shop USA, both long-time anti-trafficking advocates, have partnered to start a worldwide petition for "Safe Harbor Laws" in each state and countries around the world. Take the time to sign the petition by clicking the link below. You can also read the full Wall Street Journal story.

Thanks,

AbolitionistJB

SIGN THE PETITION TODAY!!!

The Body Shop - Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People from TheBodyShop on Vimeo.

Susan Sarondon Launches Worldwide Crusade against Child Sex Trafficking

Updated: Saturday, 31 Jul 2010, 8:27 AM PDT Published : Saturday, 31 Jul 2010, 8:27 AM PDT

Shelly Banjo

WALL STREET JOURNAL - American actress Susan Sarandon has launched a worldwide petition to lobby state governments for "Safe Harbor" laws to fight child sex trafficking, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

"Safe Harbor" laws protect victims of sex trafficking from being arrested and prosecuted for prostitution.

The petition is in partnership with the Body Shop, the U.S. branch of nonprofit End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT) and the Cambodia-based Somaly Mam Foundation.

Currently, child victims of trafficking are only protected in New York, Connecticut and Washington State.

"I choose very carefully the groups I talk about," said Sarandon, who's been an active fund-raiser for presidential candidates such as Ralph Nader, anti-war causes and gay rights. "We need to put a face to this issue in order to take the problem from abstract to specific."

The U.N. children's agency UNICEF says that about 1.2 million children a year are trafficked for cheap labor and sexual exploitation.

Source: Wall Street Journal