The New York Times reported last Thursday on the Body Shop's new human rights campaign, "Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People."

The sexual exploitation of children is an unfortunate problem worldwide--and here in the US. The Department of Justice says that "Among children and teens living on the streets in the United States, involvement in commercial sex activity is a problem of epidemic proportion....About one-fifth of these children become entangled in nationally organized crime networks and are trafficked nationally."

The Body Shop campaign takes several forms: They are donating sales of a hand cream, they are raising awareness through media buys, and they have several reports and facts on the issue available on their website.

The Body Shop has a storied history of social rights activity, which began when founder Anita Roddick launched the company in 1970. They have supported environmental issues, rejected animal testing, and currently have an HIV campaign and a domestic violence awareness campaign along with the new one.

You can buy the Soft Hands, Kind Heart hand cream at any Body Shop store or on their website, and contribute directly to their partner, EPCAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) by clicking on this link.

[Image: The Body Shop]