Campaign against sex trafficking launches

Working with a national advocacy group, Soroptimist International of Kalispell next week is kicking off what it hopes will be a statewide campaign against domestic minor sex trafficking in Montana.

That’s a term for the exploitation of children through prostitution, pornography and other forms of sexual entertainment for commercial gain.

“We know it’s happening and as long as it is we have to try and stop it,” said Diane Yarus of Soroptimist International of Kalispell, a volunteer women’s organization.

Launched in conjunction with the Flathead Abolitionist Movement, the campaign starts at Flathead Valley Community College next week with two showings of the 90-minute documentary, “Sex+Money: A National Search for Human Worth.”

Free showings are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, and 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24 in the Arts and Technology Building.

The documentary explores the child sex trade in the United States. Its showing is meant to help raise awareness, Yarus said.

On April 26, the national advocacy group Shared Hope International will visit the college with its full-day “Do You Know Lacy?” education and training session.

The regional event is being promoted around Montana for police, social service and heath-care workers, youth advocates and anyone else who is concerned — including family members, coaches, teachers and pastors — and wants to learn more about domestic minor sex trafficking.

“It takes the community approach that everyone has a role to play when it comes to combating this issue in the U.S.,” Elizabeth Scaife, a program associate with Shared Hope International, said about the event.

“We want to bring everyone together at one time to close the gaps so we don’t lose these kids. It’s a matter of exposing the issue for what it is and equipping people to recognize signs and what puts a child at risk.”

Based in Vancouver, Wash., Shared Hope International was founded by former U.S. congresswoman Linda Smith. The group aims to strengthen laws related to domestic minor sex trafficking, prevent children from being sexually exploited and rescue and restore children who are.

Five separate courses will be offered: one for law enforcement, one for social service and health care providers, one for community advocates, one for youth advocates, and finally, one for men, who are seen as the last line of defense.

The courses qualify for continuing education credit in some professions and range in cost from $35 to $50. Some scholarships are available.

Yarus hopes the campaign will lead to more awareness in Montana about domestic minor sex trafficking.

That includes knowing the signs of a problem and how to identify victims, knowing who is most at risk and knowing how minors — the vast majority of them young girls — end up in prostitution and pornography, whether forced or willingly.

It also means making sure there are adequate laws for prosecution, that victims are identified and can get the help they need, and that crimes such as aggravated promotion of prostitution are recognized as domestic minor sex trafficking, Yarus said.

The need for more awareness goes for everyone, from law enforcement to grandparents, Yarus said.

Many people think of faraway countries and big cities where children are trafficked for sex; some controlled by pimps through threats, violence and drug addiction.

The campaign comes on the heels of some high-profile cases involving the sexual exploitation of minors in Montana.

Here in the Flathead Valley, a 43-year-old Kalispell woman faces a possible sentence of life in prison for allegedly forcing a 13-year-old girl to have sex with a 32-year-old Columbia Falls man in exchange for drugs.

Both were arrested and charged last August. The woman has pleaded not guilty to aggravated promotion of prostitution and the man has pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent and sexual assault.

In 2010, Missoula police happened upon a prostitution ring run through “adult encounter” ads posted on the website Craigslist. The ring involved several girls under age 18 deemed willing participants.

Two Missoula men ultimately were convicted for running the ring on charges of aggravated promotion of prostitution and conspiracy to commit that crime.

In addition, 12 clients and would-be clients, including a Missoula attorney and a federal Bureau of Land Management employee, faced misdemeanor prostitution charges. Law enforcement there called it the state’s first such online bust.

For more information about “Do You Know Lacy?” or to register, visit www.sharedhope.org.

For more information about the documentary showing or the training, contact Yarus at 751-2175 or sikalispell@soroptimist.net.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.