Protecting Our Children: Working Together To End Child Prostitution

There is growing concern about the problem of commercial sexual exploitation of children in the United States and abroad. On December 13–14, 2002, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs, hosted a national summit to begin to address, in a comprehensive and coordinated manner, the problem of prostituted children and youth. This national summit, titled Protecting Our Children: Working Together To End Child Prostitution, was held in Washington, DC, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. The conference brought together participants from around the country who work with exploited children and youth to share their knowledge, experiences, and observations about the problem and the solutions. Approximately 130 individuals, representing a range of disciplines and perspectives on child and youth prostitution, attended this first national summit.