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News Releases
“Dear John” Campaign Officially Launched at News Conference Against the Trafficking and Prostitution of ChildrenPublished Friday, January 13, 2012Broadcast Campaign Runs Concurrent with Debated Legislation in Tallahassee MIAMI – The Children's Trust and Women's Fund of Miami-Dade have launched a powerful broadcast campaign to combat the trafficking and prostitution of children at a news conference today at Miami-Dade Police headquarters. The campaign features six of the region's most influential leaders, lawmakers and law enforcement officials: U.S. Congresswomen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Frederica Wilson, as well as State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman, and Miami-Dade Police Director, James Loftus. Called, "Dear John", this television and radio campaign is directed squarely at the men who are paying to have sex with children. The campaign also asks the public to take action now in support of bills pending in the current legislative session in Tallahassee that are designed to reduce sex trafficking in our state, as well as help the under-age victims when rescued. "According to the FBI, Miami has one of the highest incident rates of child prostitution in the country and it must be stopped," stated Modesto Abety-Gutierrez, Executive Director of The Children's Trust. "As an organization devoted to the health and well-being of all our children, The Children's Trust is committed to supporting this campaign." Advocacy groups estimate 300,000 children around the nation are at risk of being sold for sex and the average age at which girls first become victims of commercial sexual exploitation is between 12 and 14. "Minor girls who are trafficked and forced into prostitution have been victimized," said Debi Harris, CEO of Women's Fund of Miami-Dade. "These television and radio spots focus on the real criminals, the 'Johns', and rightly expose the anger and outrage we as citizens feel against this atrocity." More information about the pending House and Senate bills are available at: To download broadcast-quality versions (very large files) of the campaign spots in English and Spanish, visit: Dear John Campaign - English TV 1 - :60 Dear John Campaign - English TV 2 - :60 Campaña "Dear John" - Español - :30 To view web-ready versions visit: Dear John Campaign English TV 1 Dear John Campaign English TV 2 Campaña "Dear John" - Español The Children's Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County. Women's Fund of Miami-Dade empowers women and girls through advocacy and funding for innovative initiatives that build equality, foster social change, and create community partnerships. |