On December 6, 2007, The City of Atlanta’s “Dear John” campaign to end child prostitution won a World Leadership Award from the World Leadership Forum in London, England. It won in the “Law and “Order” category, one of fourteen awards given to exceptional municipal government programs. The World Leadership Award is presented annually to cities around the globe that demonstrate exceptional leadership to address major issues, including healthcare, housing and the environment. Judging criteria included: the quality of leadership displayed; the obstacles the city overcame; and the degree of inspiration the city may give others.
In November 2006, through a public/private partnership with Edelman, a public relations firm in Atlanta, “Dear John” was unveiled to end an increasing epidemic of child prostitution and human trafficking in Atlanta. While Atlanta is not the only city facing this issue, Atlanta chose to take a leadership position by addressing the issue head on in a public awareness campaign coupled with policy-oriented solutions and support for additional services for victims. It was designed to bring awareness to the issue among Atlanta residents, legislators, law enforcement and others in order to affect real change, and to highlight progress being made, including increased fines against Johns from $50 to $10,000, stiffened charges from a misdemeanor to a felony and mandated minimum sentences for Johns found guilty of commercially sexually exploiting children.
“Until people recognize this problem, change cannot occur,” said Mayor Shirley Franklin. “The real winners of this award are young girls on streets around the world who can be hopeful their abusers are no longer welcomed or ignored by the City of Atlanta.”
In addition to the World Leadership Award, the “Dear John” campaign has won best-in-class recognition from a variety of organizations, including an Emmy Award from the Southeast National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and a Bronze Anvil from the Public Relations Society of America.
For more information on the World Leadership Awards, please visit www.world-leadership-forum.org
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