Survivors Push for Online Child Safety Legislation Alongside Senators Durbin and Graham

This May, Global Survivor Network Members, Ruby* survivor leader from the Philippines and Josephine Aparo, survivor leader from Ghana visited Washington D.C. to meet with members of Congress, advocate for policy change and collaborate with other survivors of violences.

Ruby later participated in a bipartisan press conference hosted in the Senate alongside Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sens. Graham and Durbin have supported and passed numerous online child safety bills through the Senate Committee. They continue to advocate for legislation to end the Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC).

You can watch the press conference here.

Ruby spoke alongside Dawn Hawkins, CEO of The National Center on Sexual Exploitation Protect All Children from Trafficking’s CEO Lori Cohen, PACT Board Member Katrina Massey and Director of IJM’s Policy and Advocacy Nate King.

Ruby is a bold advocate, and her leadership has led her to halls of power to speak up against the injustice broadcast across the world.

Ruby’s remarks called for accountability from Big Tech companies in the wake of the EARN IT Act’s (Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies) introduction in the Senate. The EARN IT Act (s. 1207) passed unanimously in the Senate on May 4. and was introduced in the House of Representatives on April 19.

“I was trafficked when I was a teenager and was abused in front of a webcam—by men on computers from all over the world--- so many men from the U.S. they forced me to do things that I didn’t want to do. If I didn’t, I was punished. No other child should ever experience this,” Ruby said.

She shared the horrific reality that many children face, and the dire need for immediate action, saying, “We are doing this so other kids are safe. Congress should urge tech companies to prevent, report and remove any child sexual abuse on their sites and publicly report what they are doing to stop this,”

Ruby, Aparo and other members of IJM staff met with Representative Madeline Dean (D-PA) to thank her for her work to fight OSEC.

Later, Ruby spoke with Representative Laurel Lee (R-FL) who introduced the REPORT Act. The bill, which requires Big Tech to report trafficking and grooming of children online, was signed into law on May 7.

“I am committed to working tirelessly towards a future where all women, like Ruby, can regain their lives,” Rep. Lee said on X after their conversation.

Ruby’s story mirrors thousands of children around the world whose exploitation remains on large media sites for predators to access. Her leadership and boldness stand as a symbol of advocacy for children who often are voiceless.

Ruby called for the Senate to vote on the EARN IT Act and other child safety legislation as soon as possible, saying, “I urge all members of the United States Senate to support the passage of these bills today. Survivors cannot wait any longer for change.”

*Ruby is a pseudonym