While the focus of the campaign will be directed against child pornography, the Defenders and Shared Hope International seek to raise awareness for what they see a the greater problem of pornography.
“The campaign targets child pornography,” deputy director of communications for Shared Hope International Melissa Snow told XBIZ. “However, in the broader sense, we see porn as a gateway that leads to child pornography.”
The ad, titled “She Had A Name,” calls on men to join the group by “becoming protectors of children, not abusers.”
A spokesman for the group concludes the ad by saying: “Real men defend women and children no matter whose daughters they are.”
Linda Smith, founder of Shared Hope International, sees the campaign as an opportunity to combat a number of social ills.
"Sexual slavery is rampant around the world, but God forbid we should attack the problem in every nation on earth and allow our own children here in North America to be taken, used, and destroyed by the predators,” Smith said. “We need men to take a stand against the commercial sexual exploitation of children in America."
Despite the coalition’s efforts to raise awareness, one major network has balked at the idea giving them a platform.
Snow confirmed that NBC had refused to air the ads, citing the campaign’s controversial message. She also noted that several networks had not returned their calls to buy ad time.
The ads will begin airing on Fox today and run through the holiday weekend. Additional spots will begin running on CNN and TNT next week in select, regional markets.
