by janetlombardo | Oct 5, 2024 | Blog Post
As Generative AI continues to advance, we are confronted with an insidious threat: financial sextortion. This modern exploitation leverages AI’s capabilities to manipulate and extort individuals, posing serious ethical and financial risks. The ease of creating deepfakes has also led to an increase in cyberbullying. Victims, many children, are targeted with fake videos or images, leading to harassment, social isolation, depression and fear. Many children will never disclose these crimes out of fear of not being believed, even though the images or videos are fake.
More than ever our children, parents and caregivers must be equipped with skills to deal with online threats. We must take action by reducing the barriers so children feel they can go to a trust adult and ask for help. They need to know it is not their fault. As a community education partner with NCMEC, HTPA is equipped to provide age-appropriate education that will empower our youth to know how to respond to online blackmail and other forms of online exploitation.
In addition to education, we at HTPA are advocating for safer laws. We believe we can all do something to eradicate online exploitation. Join us in this fight: get educated, become a Champion of Change. #endchildexploitation
by janetlombardo | Sep 19, 2024 | Press Release
Press Release
For Immediate Release
HTPA ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH NCMEC TO LAUNCH COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAM
Sparks, NV – September 19, 2024 – The Human Trafficking Prevention Alliance (HTPA) is proud to announce a new partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). HTPA has joined the NCMEC Community Education Program aimed at providing age-appropriate prevention and safety programming to Northern Nevada. This initiative will also offer vital services and support to families, the public, law enforcement, and other professionals.
The Community Education Program is designed to:
- Reduce Child Sexual Exploitation: Implementing educational programs that teach children and families about the dangers of exploitation and how to stay safe.
- Prevent Future Victimization: Providing ongoing support and resources to prevent children from becoming victims of trafficking and exploitation.
“We are thrilled to partner with NCMEC to expand our efforts in protecting children and supporting families,” said Janet Lombardo, Founder and CEO at HTPA. “This collaboration will enhance our ability to educate the community and provide critical resources to those in need.”
NCMEC has been a leader in child protection for over 30 years, and this partnership will leverage their expertise and resources to further HTPA’s mission of preventing human trafficking and child exploitation.
For more information about the Community Education Program or to get involved, please visit ht-prevention.org or contact [email protected].
For more information on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children please visit https://www.missingkids.org/
About HTPA
The Human Trafficking Prevention Alliance (HTPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing human trafficking and child exploitation through education, advocacy, and support services. Our mission is to create a safer world for children and families.
by janetlombardo | Feb 17, 2024 | Blog Post
Protecting Our Children in the Digital Age: Safeguarding from Online Predators
by Janet Lombardo
Founder, CEO – HTPA
Executive Summary:
The internet offers immense opportunities for children, but it also harbors hidden dangers. Predatory individuals may exploit children online through various means, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM), child exploitation, and sextortion. This whitepaper aims to equip parents with the knowledge and tools to effectively safeguard their children from such threats. It defines key terms, outlines the nature of these dangers, and presents actionable strategies for creating a safe online environment for children.
Defining the Threats:
- Child exploitation: Any act or series of acts that involve a child being used for someone else’s gain or satisfaction, including sexual, economic, or psychological exploitation.
- CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material): Any visual or auditory content depicting the sexual abuse of a child, including pornography, exploitation, and trafficking.
- Sextortion: Coercing someone into sexual acts or sharing explicit material by threatening to expose them or harm them.
Understanding the Predators:
Online predators often use manipulative tactics to gain children’s trust and exploit their vulnerabilities. They may create fake online personas, offer gifts or promises, and exploit emotional needs or curiosity. Recognizing these tactics is crucial to preventing victimization.
Building a Safety Net:
Open Communication: Foster open and honest conversations with your children about online safety, emphasizing trust and understanding. Create a safe space where they can freely discuss their online experiences and concerns.
Tech Savvy Parents: Familiarize yourself with the platforms your children use, understand their features and privacy settings, and set clear boundaries for their online activities.
Digital Citizenship: Educate your children about responsible online behavior, including respecting others, protecting their privacy, and avoiding sharing personal information.
Monitoring and Filtering: Consider using parental controls and monitoring tools to help filter harmful content and track online activity. However, remember that these tools are not foolproof and open communication remains paramount.
Spotting the Signs: Be aware of potential red flags like changes in behavior, secretive online activity, emotional distress, or withdrawal from family and friends.
Empowering Children:
Safety Skills: Teach your children how to identify suspicious online behavior, block unwanted contacts, and report inappropriate content. Encourage them to be critical of online information and to always prioritize their safety.
Trust and Reporting: Emphasize that they can come to you with any concerns without fear of judgment or punishment. Create a safe environment where they feel comfortable reporting suspicious activity or harmful situations.
Seeking Support:
Cybersecurity Resources: Leverage resources from law enforcement agencies, cybersecurity organizations, and child protection NGOs.
Mental Health Support: Provide access to mental health professionals if your child experiences anxiety, fear, or trauma related to online experiences.
Conclusion:
Protecting children from online predators requires a proactive and collaborative approach. By building a safe environment, cultivating open communication, and empowering children with essential skills, we can ensure that the digital world remains a place of opportunity and exploration, not of exploitation and harm.
Additional Resources:
Human Trafficking Prevention Alliance: https://www.ht-prevention.org
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: https://www.missingkids.org/home
by janetlombardo | Oct 30, 2023 | Blog Post
Did you know?
According to the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report from the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, boys represent the fastest-growing segment of identified human trafficking victims. UNODC’s 2022 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, released in January 2023, notes that the percentage of boys identified as victims of human trafficking more than quintupled between 2004 and 2020 – a much larger increase than for men, women, or girls. The same report notes males (including boys and men) account for 40 percent of all identified victims of human trafficking. While women make up about twice the percentage of identified trafficking victims as men (42 % to 23 %), the percentage of trafficking victims who are boys and girls is almost the same (17 % and 18 %).
Males are less likely than females to say they are victims of human trafficking, even though they are just as likely to be trafficked. Men are more likely to think of themselves as being unlucky or gullible, rather than exploited.
What can we do?
Raise awareness! Promote change in your community and help victims come forward. Taking the power away from predators is key.
by janetlombardo | Oct 15, 2023 | Blog Post
Parents often ask us at HTPA, “What are some things I can do to reduce my teen’s risk of being trafficked?”
We can all do something to help protect our children. Education is key. We recommend parents and guardians to learn about the risk and protective factors of human trafficking and child exploitation. It’s especially important to educate yourself about the signs of human trafficking and child exploitation.
Talk, they will listen.
Talking with your kids about human trafficking can be difficult, but they will listen. They need to know that you care and that you will always be there for them no matter what. Here are some simple things you can do to safeguard your teen from human trafficking and exploitation:
- Talk with your kids. It’s so important to spend quality time with your child.
- Build trust and respect with your teen so they feel comfortable talking to you about anything.
- Know who your teen hangs out with and who they are communicating with online,
- Monitor your teen’s activities on and offline.
- Be mindful of your teen’s spending habits and talk to them if you notice a sudden increase in expenses.
- Make it clear to your teen that they will not get in trouble for asking for help, even if they made a mistake.
- It’s important to talk to your teen about the importance of knowing the phone numbers of trusted adults in case of an emergency. Make sure they know who to call if they feel unsafe or need help.
- Teach your teen about online safety and how to avoid dangerous situations.
- You need to live in your child’s world. Stay up to date with technology and popular apps used by teens.
- Teach your teen that 911 is the number to call if they are ever in danger.
- Add the trafficking hotline numbers into your teen’s phone.
- Reassure your teen that you are there for them and that you will always help them.
HTPA is here to help you. We are all in this together!
