Change the law to protect sexually exploited children
Who knew that the fate of 12-year-old sex slaves would be front and center?
ATLANTA - February 9, 2010 - "This year is, in many ways, a moment of truth for Georgia’s conservatives. Who knew that the fate of 12-year-old sex slaves would be front and center?
Out of the blue, a fight broke out this week among social conservatives over a child prostitution bill sponsored by Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford).
The bill would change the law so that children under 16 — the age of consent in Georgia — are not charged with prostitution and instead are considered victims. The FBI lists Atlanta among the cities where child prostitution is most rampant.
“Decriminalization of prostitution,” cried groups such as the Georgia Christian Coalition and Concerned Women for America of Georgia. Some of them said Unterman had “good intentions” but was misguided.
Actually, I think they have that charge backward.
The arguments against the bill tend to conflate adult prostitutes and children.
When holding people responsible for their actions, we presume they choose to act. The notion that kids aged 12 to 14 — the average age of entry for children in the commercial sex industry, according to FBI stats — can choose to sell their bodies doesn’t square with other legal treatments of minors." To read more, click here.
About Street GRACE
Street GRACE is a non-denominational alliance of churches dedicated to the eradication of the sexual exploitation of children in Atlanta and duplication of these efforts in other cities. It is estimated that 200-300 girls will be raped for profit in metro Atlanta this month.
For more information on how you can become involved in eradicating child sex slavery from Georgia, visit streetgrace.org or call (678) 990-9513.
