Raising the Bar against Child Sex Slavery
Songwriter Opens UN Forum on Human Trafficking
Report by Kate Tsubata
Horrified by the pandemic of children bought and sold for sexual slavery, songwriter Eric Proffitt has created a musical anthem against this violation of human rights, which will kick off the upcoming UN Forum on Human Trafficking in Vienna, Austria, February 13-15, 2008.
“Little Child, Bitter tears, Little love, Great big fears,” Proffitt sings of the estimated 1.8 million children bought and sold each year for sexual exploitation, begging the world to “Find the captive; free the slave.”
“As the father of four beautiful young daughters, and husband to an amazing wife, I felt I had to do something to protect these precious young lives,” Proffitt said. In 2007, he wrote “Little Child,” which was first chosen by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to be played at a conference that year in New Delhi, during a dialogue between children and the minister of Women and Child Development on the prevention of trafficking.
At the Vienna forum, Proffitt is performing “Little Child” for the international delegates, as a voice for the voiceless. The victims of the modern slave trade suffer violence, mutilation, and are at high risk for infection with HIV and other STDs. The internet, crime organizations and corrupt law enforcement have contributed to a huge increase in this systematized rape of youth. Even more tragic, poverty and lack of hope persuades some parents to sell their own children, underlining the conference’s theme: “Human Trafficking—A Crime that Shames us All.”
Proffitt has been using his songs to challenge public consciousness in the political arena as well. His song and video “Raise the Bar,” (which was filmed and produced with the talents of the DC WAIT team, and the video production work of LightSmith Productions) calls on America to demand integrity in our public life.
Both songs are in the “Internet Song of the Year” competition, and can be heard or viewed by internet: www.ericproffitt.com. Advocates for the rights of children to be protected from violation may contact Eric by email, (403) 653-1958.
