International sex trafficking

Given the nature of this discussion, listener discretion is advised.

On this week's show, we are looking at sex trafficking of children around the world, and how the media covers this problem. In September 2012, the Times of London first reported that police in the English city of Rotherham had covered up a series of sexual abuses against children that took place from 1997 onward. The British government then commissioned a report to investigate the claims, and to examine the police's handling of the allegations. The report was published in August. It found that at least 1,400 children had been victimized in Rotherham, and that both the police and the local government knew about the abuse, but did nothing to act on it. While this story attracted international attention for its scope and scale, it is sadly just one of many instances of child sex trafficking and victimization that takes place throughout the world. Journalists often struggle to cover these types of stories, not only due to sensitivities surrounding child sexual abuse, but because finding accurate information about the cases can be hard to find.

Today on Global Journalist, we talk about the coverage of sex trafficking and sexual abuse of children, and what the media can do to cover these stories properly.

Our guests:

• Steve Herman, Voice of America's Southeast Asia bureau chief
• Rodney Green, a researcher at Messiah College who researches sexual exploitation in India
• Clark Peters, a University of Missouri assistant professor whose research influenced the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act, which passed through Congress earlier this year