The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors declared January “National Human Trafficking Month” on Tuesday to mark three years of fighting to protect victims of child sex trafficking.
Supervisor Don Knabe proposed the declaration.
“We have made significant strides in our efforts to combat the sexual exploitation of children for money across our region,” Knabe said. “We have been able to support the true victims of this heinous crime and bring to justice those who buy and sell children for profit.”
The sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau held an event today to highlight its efforts to eliminate sex crimes involving children, including a “demand side” crackdown and a campaign to end the use of the words “prostitute” and “child prostitute,” Knabe said.
“No child grows up dreaming of being manipulated emotionally and physically into a hellish life of exploitation,” he said. “It is our responsibility to protect these victims, to wrap our arms around them and provide them with all the services they need to get on the road to recovery.”