One Million to End The Demand

ONE MILLION TO END THE DEMAND

A Washington State Call to Protect Children

Across Washington State, children are being sold for sex.

Not somewhere far away.
Not only in headlines.
Here — in our communities.

This is not about politics, parties, or ideology.

This is about whether a society protects its children when they are most vulnerable.

Heartbreak is not enough anymore.

It is time for action.

Who Is Being Harmed

Children under the age of ten are among those targeted by predatory adults.

These are not statistics.

These are sons and daughters.
Students. Neighbors. Children who should be safe.

Every child at risk of being sold should be seen as our own to protect.

Why Demand Matters

Trafficking does not exist without buyers. Human traffickers are turning a profit of over $150 billion USD a year.

Under the current legal and social reality, men who purchase children for sex, act without fear of meaningful consequences. When accountability is inconsistent or invisible, those who create demand hold the power — and children bear the trauma.

A system that does not frighten buyers cannot protect children.

The Legal Reality in Washington State

Under current Washington law:

• Buying a minor for sex (Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor) is a Class B felony, carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine. Currently, millions of dollars in court-ordered fines against offenders remain uncollected, weakening deterrence and undermining accountability.

• By comparison, certain offenses involving sexual intercourse with a child are classified as Class A felonies, punishable by up to life in prison.

This creates a difficult question for our community:

If sexual exploitation of a child is among the most serious crimes recognized by law, why does the commercial purchase of a child — the act that fuels exploitation — carry significantly lower classification and inconsistent enforcement?

A law that exists only on paper does not protect children.

Ride at Dawn Time

There are moments when communities must decide who they are.

This is one of them.

We cannot rely only on outrage after harm occurs.
We must build systems strong enough to prevent it.

Protection is not a feeling.
Protection is a system.

What We Ask Washington State To Do

We call for laws and enforcement systems that truly protect children:

1. Align the Law With the Harm

Reevaluate the classification and sentencing structure for purchasing minors so penalties reflect the gravity of exploiting a child.

2. Require Mandatory Custodial Sentencing for Buyers of Minors

Establish sentencing standards requiring meaningful incarceration for adults convicted of purchasing a minor for sex. Consequences must be certain enough to deter exploitation and reflect the gravity of harm to children.

3. Enforce Court-Ordered Penalties

Fully assess and collect financial penalties imposed on offenders. Accountability cannot be optional.

4. Reduce quiet plea-downs through transparency and accountability

Establish strict safeguards so that charges involving the purchase of a minor cannot be routinely reduced or resolved without meaningful consequences.

5. Transparency for the Public

Require annual statewide reporting showing:

• Arrests

• Prosecutions

• Sentences imposed

• Jail or prison time served

• Fines assessed and collected

Communities deserve truth and accountability.

Our Principle

Every child at risk belongs to all of us.

When a child is vulnerable to exploitation, the community has a duty to act.
Silence protects predators.
Action protects children.

This is not left or right.

This is humanity.

SIGN THE PETITION

Join thousands of Washington residents calling for real protection

This petition is organized by Washington residents advocating for stronger protections for children and meaningful accountability for exploitation.