U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE RECOGNIZES MARCH 23, 2007 AS CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AWARENESS DAY

Oregon’s U.S. Attorney Karin J. Immergut announces that the Department of Justice has designated today, March 23, 2007, as Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness Day in an effort to highlight the multi-jurisdictional efforts that are being made to protect our nation’s children under an initiative called Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a national initiative that encourages partnerships among local, state and federal law enforcement, schools and communities to combat the sexual exploitation of children. As part of that initiative, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Ad Council have created public service announcements (PSAs) to educate teenage girls about the potential dangers of posting and sharing personal information online. Those PSAs are attached.

U.S. Attorney Immergut has been actively involved with federal, state and local partners, including the Oregon Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), led by Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers, in carrying out the priorities of Project Safe Childhood. On February 21, 2007, the United States Attorney’s Office in Oregon co-sponsored Oregon’s first statewide Child Exploitation Conference with the Oregon FBI, Oregon Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Oregon ICAC. The conference brought together over 220 attendees representing law enforcement, prosecutors, community leaders, prevention programs and educators. This gathering was an opportunity to come together to discuss coordinated strategies to protect children from sexual predators.

“In the past year, my office has ramped up investigations and prosecutions in child sexual exploitation cases by partnering with state, local and federal law enforcement, as well as district attorneys offices throughout Oregon,” stated Immergut. “We have also increased our prevention efforts by working with the ICAC to educate Oregonians about the dangers of online predators. We hope that these new public service announcements will assist our efforts to educate the public, particularly parents and teens about the risks children face online.”

U.S. ATTORNEY IMMERGUT WILL BE AVAILABLE AT 3:00 P.M. TODAY FOR COMMENTS AT THE FRONT ENTRANCE TO THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, 1000 SW 3RD AVENUE, PORTLAND, OREGON. COPIES OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR THE MEDIA.

For the Public Service Announcements, click here.

For further information regarding Project Safe Childhood, please contact Gerri Badden and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, at (503) 727-1033.