Vegas hub for child sex trafficking

I received this from the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsoring Committee and pass it along for your edification. You can find out more here.

"The Las Vegas Valley is an international hub for child sex trafficking -- the selling of children for purposes of prostitution. The Valley is also the adult entertainment capitol of the world. We, the leaders of the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsoring Committee, believe these two realities can and must be uncoupled so that children are no longer swept up into the entertainment and tourism marketplace in a way that degrades us and violates them.

"Sin City? What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas? Let’s decide as a community where and how we draw the line. We find the exploitation of children, even for commercial purposes, deplorable. Worldwide, Las Vegas scores as one of the 14 capitols of child sex trafficking. Shared Hope International reports that “…1,496 children from 40 states were trafficked into and arrested for prostitution in Clark County, Nevada between January 1994 and July 2007.” This is the tip of a growing iceberg.

"The Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsoring Committee (LVVISC) is forming a new organization of mostly faith-based organizations. We represent Christians of many denominations, Muslims, Jews, Unitarians, and others. We are growing. While our beliefs vary in many ways, we are firmly united that the evil of child sex trafficking must be eliminated from our Valley.

"As a community, we acknowledge our failure to defend and protect children and families and vow to do better through prayer, organization and action. We can act now! Four bills have been introduced to the Nevada State Legislature pertaining to sex trafficking: AB 4; AB5; AB6; and, AB106. Please take the time to educate yourselves about these bills and act by contacting your legislators. We must end our ignorance and negligence regarding this evil in our valley, starting now!

"One helpful resource is www.nevadacoalition.org which is organizing a public witness against sex trafficking on the Strip on April 2, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The LVVISC is organizing a Prayer Service on May 22, 2011 to bolster our efforts to end sex trafficking and support children and families. Join LVVISC on Facebook for further information about these and other activities and actions and how you can participate."