The campaign arrives ahead of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30, targeting a threat that has migrated from physical spaces to gaming platforms and social media. Derek Benner, CEO of Our Rescue and former Homeland Security Investigations official, warns that predators now exploit children with alarming speed. Data from Crisp indicates that offenders can move to high-risk grooming phases in as few as 19 seconds, relying on calculated, volume-based tactics to isolate minors from their digital environments.
Our Rescue Launches RISE UP Campaign to Combat Online Child Exploitation
With nearly 12 million children trapped in modern slavery, the nonprofit Our Rescue is shifting its strategy from passive awareness to active community intervention. The newly launched RISE UP initiative aims to address the rapid rise of digital grooming, which now accounts for hundreds of thousands of online enticement reports annually.
Beyond individual vigilance, the initiative emphasizes structural reform. June Haskell, Director of Survivor Engagement, advocates for a shift toward survivor-centered systems where law enforcement, healthcare providers, and community advocates collaborate to reduce the isolation victims face during recovery. As reports of online enticement surged more than 300 percent between 2021 and 2023, the organization is pushing for concrete local actions, including improved reporting channels and specialized training for frontline workers to identify the subtle warning signs of manipulation before exploitation takes root.
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