ATLANTA (November 10, 2014) | Sen. Renee Unterman (R – Buford) has announced her support for the City of Brookhaven’s “Not Buying It” program during a press briefing today at Brookhaven City Hall. Originally developed through the Governor’s Office for Children and Families (GOCF) Statewide CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children) Task Force initiative, the program encourages taking a stand against child sex trafficking through advocacy, prevention and restoration. Sen. Unterman spoke at the press briefing alongside several other state and city officials, including Attorney General Sam Olens, Georgia Bureau of Investigations Director Vernon Keenan and Brookhaven Mayor J. Max Davis.
“I am so proud of the City of Brookhaven and their efforts to end a devastatingly sad problem in Georgia. It’s my hope that other Georgia cities follow their lead by openly showing support for this program and joining the fight against child sex trafficking,” said Sen. Unterman.
At the conclusion of the press briefing, the present elected officials signed the “Not Buying It” pledge, confirming efforts fight child sex trafficking to the fullest extent of the law. The pledge asks signers to “walk inintegrity by not purchasing sex; exhibit courage by raising awareness, speaking out against CSEC, and reversing today’s distorted perception of sex; and leave a legacy by mentoring the next generation to walk in integrity and exhibit the courage to eradicate CSEC from the face of the earth.” The public may also sign the pledge online.
The “Not Buying It” program is the product of one of seven workgroups under the GOCF Statewide CSEC Task Force initiative. Child welfare advocates and professionals from Mercer University, YouthSpark, Wellspring Living, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Georgia Center for Opportunity, The Bastian Center for the Study of Human Trafficking, Interfaith Children’s Movement, and the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta all contributed to the program’s development.
Street Grace (a nonprofit dedicated to eradicating domestic minor sex trafficking), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the State Attorney General’s Office have formed a partnership to oversee the continued implementation of the “Not Buying It” program statewide.
For further information, or to sign the “Not Buying It” pledge online, visit www.notbuyingit.org.
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For Immediate Release:
November 10, 2014
For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Director
jennifer.yarber@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028