This demonstration project is designed to build on earlier successes in addressing the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) in the Atlanta metro area.
The recent, alarming rise in the number of children coming to the attention of the court system who have been sexually exploited for commercial purposes prompted the Juvenile Justice Fund and the Fulton County Juvenile Court to convene the Coalition to End Adolescent Sexual Exploitation. Through these initial efforts, the Coalition raised public awareness regarding issues related to juvenile justice and child welfare including the issue of child commercial sexual exploitation. Strong, effective, community-wide collaborations with health care professionals, services providers, community volunteers, concerned citizens in the faith-based community, various branches of government, and in law enforcement, were developed, as well as, with those in the legal, funding and education communities.
The Coalition's work resulted in several achievements, including:
- Passage of legislation which made pimping and pandering a minor a felony in the state of Georgia (until March 2001, this was a misdemeanor)
- Fundraising of over $1 million, which lead to the opening of Angela's House, the first safe house for sexually exploited girls in the southeast.
- Creation of the Center to End Adolescent Sexual Exploitation (CEASE) which provides advocacy, education and training.
- Cooperation with the U.S. Attorney's office which lead to the conviction of 14 pimps operating in the community.
- Development of a set of recommendations for further action during the initial planning phase of this demonstration project.
The implementation phase funding will now allow the Juvenile Justice Fund to move forward to establish "perimeter of protection," both to prevent sexual exploitation of children as well as to identify and intervene earlier on behalf of those children who are already being victimized.
NCA/NCF
