Anti-child Abuse Activist Is Accused of Child Abuse

The co-founder and head of a charity that campaigns against sexual violence was arrested in New York on Tuesday on charges of enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity, attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, and possession, receipt and distribution of child pornography. 

Joel Davis, 22, was the chairman of the International Campaign to Stop Rape and Gender Violence in Conflict and co-founded the Youth to End Sexual Violence. For his work, he was selected as a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015.

Prosecutors allege that Davis exchanged text messages with undercover agents over the course of several weeks in June 2018. He is alleged to have told the agents that he was sexually interested in children of all ages. He also stands accused of sending sexually explicit photographs of infants, including some that showed adults performing sexual acts with them. 

Davis also laid bare his nefarious intention to engage in sexual activity with the nine-year-old daughter of the undercover agent and with the purported two-year-old daughter of the agent’s girlfriend.

Following his arrest, Davis allegedly confessed to officers about his past sexual exploits and mentioned about an instance where he had sexually abused a 13-year-old boy. He also confessed to keeping child pornography on his phone.

US Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman stated, “Davis started an organization devoted to stopping sexual violence, while allegedly engaged in the duplicitous behavior of sharing explicit images of infants engaged in sexual activity.” He further described his alleged actions as 'unfathomable' and 'sickening'.

In 2014, Davis wrote an article for the Huffington Post in which he boasted how his organization was working towards stopping sexual exploitation around the globe and helping those in need.

“Youth to End Sexual Violence is one example of how youth-led organizations around the world are standing together in solidarity – demanding a seat at the discussion table for youth survivors, activists, and leaders,” he wrote.

“We are also using media and technology to share the global call to prevent, protect, and prosecute, and working with governments and civil society organizations to report on how young people are affected by warzone rape.”

William F. Sweeney Jr., FBI’s Assistant Director-in-Charge said, “Having started an organization that pushed for the end of sexual violence, Davis displayed the highest degree of hypocrisy by his alleged attempts to sexually exploit multiple minors.”

We must not view this as a lone wolf incident of someone of high repute indulging in sexual misadventures. There have been numerous instances of respected university professors forcing students to sexual compromises and of powerful politicians committing sexual abuses. What can be more alarming than the fact that earlier this year a reputed Roman Catholic priest was arrested following allegations that he collected and traded images of children being sexually abused, and that he talked in chat rooms about wanting to rape and kill children. During a search at the church-owned home of Father Faucher in Northwest Boise investigators found more than 2,000 child porn videos and photographs on his computer and cellphone.  Illicit drugs like LSD, ecstasy, and marijuana were also recovered from his residence.

An increase in the number of such incidents highlights the breaking up of the society’s moral fabric due to the growing discontent at the deplorable situation around. So, while we wait for the lethargic judicial system to pronounce justice in matters of sexual abuses that have come to light, we must also keep up our vigil lest we or our kids become victims.