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Our Perspectives

By Amy Bruins, Vice President of Community Impact, Our Rescue  Mature Content Warning: This article discusses mature themes portrayed in Euphoria, including addiction, sexual exploitation, coercion, assault, commercial sexual exploitation, forced criminality, and human trafficking.  Euphoria (HBO) has never been a show that shies away from difficult subjects. The series explores complex and often uncomfortable themes including addiction, coercion,…

By Jim Cole, Senior Advisor for Cyber Strategy and Child Protection, Our Rescue  Published in recognition of National Police Week, May 2026  People ask me, “How do you do it?”  Not my law enforcement colleagues. They already know the answer, or they have their own version of it. The question…

June Haskell brings over ten years of experience speaking as a survivor of sex trafficking, domestic violence, childhood trauma and drug endangerment. From policies and programs to events and media, June works as Director of Survivor Engagement at Our Rescue and is a valued and respected resource. April is…

Inside DHS’s Cyber Crimes Center (C3) in Fairfax, Virginia, I witnessed firsthand what global collaboration against child exploitation truly looks like when law enforcement officers from around the world gathered for Operation Renewed Hope. This past March, nearly 100 officers from 35 countries worked side by side, creating a temporary…

Every year, Mardi Gras brings hundreds of thousands of visitors to New Orleans, filling the city with parades, music, and celebration. Large in-market events like this, often raise questions about whether human trafficking increases as well. The reality is more complex. Human trafficking does not occur only during major events.

In a recent Guardian interview, actress Mara Wilson, beloved for her work as a child actress in movies such as “Matilda,” and “Mrs. Doubtfire,” shared a modern horror story. She discovered that her likeness when she was a child had been used to create AI-generated child sexual abuse material (AIG-CSAM). Her story…

The online world your children explore every day is not a playground, it’s a landscape of evolving threats. Just six months into 2025, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) released data showing a significant increase in reports related to online enticement, financial sextortion, AI-enabled exploitation, and child sex trafficking.  Importantly, NCMEC has noted…

When we think about terrorism, we picture threats aimed at political ideologies or mass casualty attacks. But a new extremist threat is emerging, and it is aimed at our children with the intent to exploit.  This threat is a group called 764, a decentralized terrorist child exploitation network that U.S. law enforcement has described as a highest-priority terrorism threat. Unlike other terrorist networks, 764 does not target…

If there’s one thing I’ve witnessed over the years during my work for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and now at my current role as CEO of Our Rescue, it’s the realization that the people who dedicate their lives to fighting child sexual exploitation are real life heroes.  Among…

By Chaz Balogh, Our Rescue ESD K9 Program Relationship Manager  A highly trained, excitable and lovable detective named Spike saved my life. I don’t say that lightly. He brought me back to life, really, giving me a new purpose and rejuvenating my career in my lifelong mission to protect kids.

 A National Police Week Message from Our Rescue CEO Derek Benner All of us who are serving or have served in law enforcement have peered into some of the darkest corners of humanity—investigating human trafficking, child exploitation, gang violence, cartel crimes, narcotics smuggling, illicit financial schemes, and fraud and scams.  …

One year ago, I took on the opportunity of a lifetime as Our Rescue’s new CEO. I accepted this pivotal role with one goal: to transform the organization as a leading partner in the mission to end sex trafficking and child exploitation.   I said ‘yes’ because I saw so much…

Human trafficking is happening everywhere, including in all 50 U.S. states, and short-term rental properties are not immune. Our Rescue CEO Tammy Lee joined the “Short Term Rental Secrets” podcast to discuss how this pervasive issue can infiltrate communities in unexpected ways. Short-term rentals are typically homes and apartments rented through…

Sex trafficking is a worldwide crime against women and children. Predators often form sophisticated networks to transport unsuspecting victims across international borders and then trap them in a life of sexual servitude.  Stopping these sex traffickers requires a coalition of organizations from different countries working together. That’s where Our Rescue…

As 2024 draws to a close, Our Rescue is deeply grateful for your contribution in the fight to end sex trafficking and child exploitation. Every milestone reflects the dedication of our team, partners, donors, and supporters worldwide. Together, we’ve made strides to protect the vulnerable, support survivors, and bring justice…

As a mom who worried everyday about my daughter’s online safety when she was a tweener and teen, I can finally breathe easier now that she is an adult.  To all the parents and caring adults out there, we want to help you breathe easier as well. Throughout October, OUR…

by Tammy Lee, CEO of OUR Rescue    Eight months ago, I became the CEO of OUR Rescue. I’m launching this blog to create a space where we can have candid discussions about the challenges we face in combating sex trafficking and child exploitation. I hope that, together, we can bring…