HSI educates the public ahead of the United Nations World Day for the Prevention and Recovery from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence

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KANSAS CITY, Missouri – For more than two decades, Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City has protected the public from victimization crimes and strategically targeted and investigated individuals and networks that engage in child exploitation. Recently, the United Nations officially declared November 18 as the World Day for the Prevention and Recovery from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence. The UN proclaimed the day to highlight child sexual exploitation and abuse and bring together stakeholders, such as HSI, from around the world to prevent it.

HSI Kansas City’s goal is to protect children from exploitation by predators involved in the production, distribution and possession of child pornography in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. What makes HSI unique from other law enforcement agencies is its broad legal authority to conduct federal criminal investigations into the illegal cross-border movement of people, property, money, technology and equipment. other contraband through the United States. HSI uses its authority to investigate a wide range of transnational crimes, including transnational gang activity, child exploitation, and human smuggling and trafficking.

HSI’s victim-centered approach to these investigations has led to the identification or rescue of thousands of child sexual exploitation victims.

“HSI’s Special Agents and Victim Assistance Specialists place equal value on identifying and stabilizing victims while simultaneously investigating those suspected of engaging in child exploitation,” said Katherine Greer, special agent in charge of HSI Kansas City. “But we need the help of the community to raise awareness and report signs of potential abuse.”

“HSI’s iGuardian Project is a great place to find valuable resources that can be used to educate parents, trusted adults, and caregivers,” Greer continued. “Using the resources there, coupled with engaging the public, are great steps toward better protecting children and teens from predators.”

But education and awareness aren’t the only things that help protect minors. HSI is also committed to holding those who exploit children accountable for their actions.

“The Child Exploitation Investigations Unit (CEIU) uses the latest technology to collect evidence and track the activities of individuals and organized groups who sexually exploit children using websites, chat rooms, peer-to-peer exchanges and other Internet platforms; we have had cases where predators have exploited thousands of minors around the world – child exploitation is a major problem that pervades every landscape in America,” said Daniel Kenny, Acting Unit Chief of CEIU. “If someone abuses your trust or threatens to exploit you or a loved one, it’s not your fault and there is help available. We use cutting-edge investigative techniques to bring to justice consumers, producers and distributors of child sexual exploitation material, as well as predators who engage in transnational child sexual abuse.

Several laws increase the likelihood that sexual predators who harm children will face serious consequences, including the Mann Act, the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse Act 1994, the Protection Act 2003 and the Child Sexual Abuse Act 2006. child protection and safety Adam Walsh. Additionally, federal law prohibits U.S. residents from engaging in sexual or pornographic activity anywhere in the world with a child under the age of 18.

Those convicted in the United States face significant penalties, as the following recent HSI Kansas City child exploitation cases show:

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 866-347-2423 or by completing an online report form. Both are manned 24 hours a day by investigators. Outside the United States and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

HSI is a branch of ICE and the primary investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, particularly criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which the international trade, travel and finance. HSI’s workforce of more than 10,400 employees includes more than 6,800 special agents assigned to 225 cities across the United States and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest overseas investigative presence and one of the largest international law enforcement footprints in the United States.

Learn more about HSI’s mission to fight child exploitation in your community on Twitter @HSIKansasCity.

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