Tim Tebow Testifies Before Congress to Fight Child Sexual Abuse
By Movieguide® Contributor
Tim Tebow spoke in front of the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance about working to protect the vulnerable from sexual abuse.
“So grateful for the chance to testify this morning before the House Judiciary Committee, meet, and talk with representatives on both sides of the aisle on behalf of some of the most vulnerable people – children who are victims of sexual abuse and exploitation,” Tebow said.
“Identifying and rescuing these children is so much more than policy,” he continued. “Policy is important, but our focus has to stay on people. They deserve our best because God set the example and gave His very best, His son Jesus. ?”
The hearing focused on the increased spread of child sexual abuse materials that are proliferated online. Tebow implored lawmakers to create a bill that would support a rescue team task force to identify and rescue victims of sexual abuse and exploitation.
This task force would continue the work that Tebow has already started through his nonprofit’s “Rescue Them” operation. Throughout a decade of work, the foundation has rescued over 3,500 people across 32 countries.
“Reflecting on this operation, and the incredible life-changing work being done, I think of the renewed hope for so many of these boys and girls,” Tebow said last year. “The best definition I’ve ever heard of the biblical form of hope is to look forward with confidence, anticipation, and expectation, and I can only image that for so many of these children suffering through this abuse that they probably had lost all hope and had little reason to look forward.”
Tebow’s work, along with other similar organizations, however, has given these children something to hope in as they are saved from that dehumanizing industry. Furthermore, through last year’s surprise hit, SOUND OF FREEDOM, the issues of human trafficking and child sexual exploitation have found a place on the public’s radar, leading lawmakers to focus on stemming the evil. Unfortunately, America remains the No. 1 location for human trafficking to occur.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Tim Tebow is encouraging others to join his battle to end the spread of child sexual abuse material.
“I want to share with you an evil that may be growing at an even faster rate than human trafficking,” the former football star wrote in an essay for Fox News. “It’s called CSAM–child sexual abuse material. Sometimes people will refer to this as child pornography, but that’s not the truth. It’s just not. These sexually explicit videos and images taken of children are so much worse than that. It’s not child pornography, so let’s call it what it is, it’s child sexual abuse.”
Tebow explained that, while many think human traffickers are making this material, “fathers are the number one producers of CSAM. The other most common abusers are within their circles of trust, with stepfathers and family friends also on the list for committing these horrific crimes.”
The issue is so pervasive, Tebow explained, that every single minute, 156 CSAM images and videos are shared online.
