Contact: Vern Smith, Shared Hope, 360-693-8100, savelives@sharedhope.org

VANCOUVER, Wash., June 15 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Defenders USA announces the dedication of a national headquarters and the launch of the Truck Stop Campaign to combat commercial sexual exploitation of children in America.

The Defenders USA, a project of Shared Hope International (SHI) founded by former Congresswoman Linda Smith, was officially launched on Father's Day in 2006 with the "She Has a Name" advertising campaign which called on the men of America to defend themselves, their children, and their families against the dangerous influences and harms of the commercial sex industry. As a result of this campaign, hundreds of men in every state across the nation signed a pledge to become a Defender and advanced the first offensive in the battle against sexual exploitation of children by the commercial sex industry and buyers.

To mark the one year anniversary, The Defenders USA plans to launch another campaign called "She Has a Name - and It Is Not 'Lot Lizard'" at truck stops which are known throughout the United States as places of commercial sexual exploitation of minors. The local Defenders will go to truck and rest stops in the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington areas, asking truck drivers to join The Defenders USA and take the pledge to become a Defender. 

Launch of The Defenders USA National Headquarters and Truck Stop Campaign, "She Has a Name"

When:  June 16, 2007  - 10:30 am
What:   Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Where:  2906 E. Evergreen Blvd. Vancouver, WA 98665
Who:   The Defenders USA
Contact:  Dave Austen or Vern Smith at 1-866-HER-LIFE

About The Defenders USA
The Defenders USA specifically works to:

• Raise public awareness of the harms to both the victim and the buyer/user of buying commercial sexual services and using pornography;
• Encourage public debate on the dangerous normalization of buying commercial sexual services from increasingly younger children, as evidenced by the growing number of children being drawn into prostitution at an average age of 12 years and younger;
• Challenge civil society groups, including faith-based organizations and churches to provide refuge and services to the victims and treatment for the victimizers to stop the harmful behavior in which they may be engaged;
• Provide resources to men (by men) through The Defenders USA website to educate and direct those in need to access help when necessary.

For more information on The Defenders USA, please visit <www.thedefendersusa.org>. For more information on Shared Hope International, please visit <www.sharedhope.org>.