What Is a Child's Life Worth?

What is a child's life worth? That seems like an obscene question, doesn't it? To anyone with children, or to those of us who have children in our lives that we care for, a child's life is priceless. Unfortunately in many areas of the world, children are regarded as chattel. They are bartered for and used as property. Human trafficking and child prostitution is shocking and sickening to us, but it's a truth we must face if we are to engage in the fight to prevent such horrific behavior. 
According to ECPAT International, there are about two million victims of childhood prostitution each year. There are approximately 500,000 child prostitutes in Brazil alone. Most of these victims are under age 12. Each child can be forced to service up to 1,500 "clients" in a year. That's four predators they have to service each day; and this is happening to elementary school-age children! 
The abuse has many long-term affects on the children, even after they are rescued. In China, 78% of child prostitutes acquire an STD; in Vietnam, 67% have an abortion; and in Southeast Asia, 90% of these children are infected with HIV. Almost all of these children abuse drugs and alcohol.
Most of the predators who violate these children are American (25%), German (18%), Australian (14%) and British (14%). On average, they pay $5 to abuse these innocent victims.
What can we do to help stop this tragedy? By sponsoring a child through Compassion International, you can help stop the abuse before it starts. Compassion works to prevent the abuse by being in 26 countries where human trafficking is most prominent. Compassion ensures each child that they are loved and protected. The Compassion field employees know the families and neighborhoods of each of the children and they notice when something is wrong. They can step in to stop any possible exploitation and provide safe shelter for children. They can defend the child's rights and restore them. 
This is something I believe in strongly. I have been blessed to spend time in the field with Compassion. Their priority is the safety, spiritual, physical and educational development of the children in their care. Compassion works in conjunction with the local church and involves the families and communities to not only change the lives of the children, but their  everyone around them as well.
So, what is a child's life worth? Is it worth $38 a month? That's the cost to sponsor a child. I ask that you consider that investment today and join us in preventing childhood prostitution and human trafficking.

http://www.compassion.com