Amanda Grady Sexton, the director of public affairs for the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, said the org was grateful to all of the agencies who assisted with the effort to charge and arrest the men who attempted to traffic a child in Manchester.

“Initiatives like Project Safe Childhood help bring together agencies to stop the rapidly expanding epidemic of child exploitation,” she said. “ While law enforcement agencies and prosecutors are working hard to investigate and prosecute child predators, it’s important for all of us to know that we, too, have a role in ending the sexual exploitation of children in our communities. Our crisis centers not only assist victims of human trafficking and child exploitation but also work with local schools, parents, social service agencies, and any member of the public who is interested in learning how to help prevent and end child abuse.”

​The organization has a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week helpline at 1-866-644-3574, which will connect anyone to a local crisis center for free and confidential support and education.

Patch
November 18, 2024

Meg Chant, the program director at the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence says the signs pointing to a child in danger won't always look the same. "With youth, you may be seeing that someone whose online behavior has changed significantly in a very short period of time. You may see a young person who has items that they wouldn't be able to afford".

People should understand that child sex trafficking could happen in any community. 

"The kidnappings and the crossing borders: that's one of the biggest misconceptions that there has to be border crossings for something to constitute trafficking and there doesn't. We're really talking about raising awareness of the fact that this is happening in New Hampshire". 

WMUR
November 16, 2024