Take action against sexual assault and sex trafficking

Our current political situation has aimed a harsh spotlight on the rampant sexual abuse of women and children, both girls and boys, in this country. The Huntress Moon series is my ongoing attempt to confront the evils of rape culture and misogyny and the damage sexual abuse inflicts on ALL of us – and asks the question: “What can good people do about evil in the world?”

Many of my readers write to me asking what they can do to fight rape, child abuse and sex trafficking. I’ve compiled a list of organizations I support and other resources here.

Every month I donate a portion of my royalties to organizations that rescue and work with homeless, trafficked and sexually exploited teens, that work to prevent sexual violence and abuse, and to Planned Parenthood, which works tirelessly to ensure that every child is planned, wanted, and cared for. If you’d like to learn more about organizations in your country, state and community, here are some links to places you can start:

CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT   

Children of the Night is a privately funded non-profit organization established in 1979 and dedicated to rescuing America’s children from the ravages of prostitution.  

COVENANT HOUSE 

Covenant House is a nonprofit charity serving homeless youth with a network of shelters across the Americas. Each year in the U.S. alone, as many as 2 million youth experience a period of homelessness, and every year more than 5,000 of these young people lose their lives to the streets. Survivors of sexual assault and LGBTQ youth are particularly vulnerable to homelessness, and services to these populations will likely decrease radically in the coming years.

EROC:  End Rape On Campus  

End Rape on Campus (EROC) works to end campus sexual violence through direct support for survivors and their communities; prevention through education; and policy reform at the campus, local, state, and federal levels.

I strongly urge everyone to watch the excellent, harrowing documentary The Hunting Ground to fully understand the preponderance of rape on college campuses and the appallingly inadequate response by campus boards, local law enforcement and the US Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos.

MISSSEY 

Since 2007, MISSSEY has devoted its energy to the heartbreaking epidemic of commercial sexual exploitation by supporting and advocating for youth who are victims of child sex trafficking. We are a survivor-centered, trauma-informed organization confronting the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) in Oakland, in Alameda County, and throughout California.


SAVING INNOCENCE

Working to rescue and restore child victims of sex trafficking through strategic partnerships with local law enforcement, social service providers, and schools, while mobilizing communities to prevent abuse and increase neighborhood safety.

THORN

Thorn partners across the tech industry, government and NGOs and leverages technology to combat predatory behavior, rescue victims, and protect vulnerable children from sexual exploitation.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD  

For nearly 100 years, Planned Parenthood has promoted a commonsense approach to women’s health and well-being, based on respect for each individual’s right to make informed, independent decisions about health, sex, and family planning. Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of women, men, and young people worldwide.

POLARIS 

Polaris is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization committed to combatting and preventing modern-day slavery and human trafficking. The organization works directly with victims, hosts tip and crisis hotlines, and offers solutions to those victimized by human trafficking. The organization is one of the largest anti-trafficking organizations in the US, with programs operating at local and national levels through their offices in Washington, DC and Newark, New Jersey. They operate the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC),  which serves as a central national hotline on human trafficking.

National Sexual Assault Hotline       Call 1-800-656-4673  (800-656-HOPE)

Be aware that different local charities have different ratings as to effectiveness – you can check the rating of any charitable organization here: CHARITY NAVIGATOR

“Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that 

good men should look on and do nothing.”

                                                                – John Stuart Mill