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Officials Unveil Campaign To Raise Awareness On Child Sex Trafficking

LOS ANGELES (CBS)  — Officials from law enforcement, transit and business Thursday unveiled a multimedia ad campaign aimed at raising awareness of child sex trafficking.

Advertisements in English and Spanish will be placed at Metro stations and bus stops, and on buses and rail cars.

"This campaign is a first step in raising the public profile of child sex trafficking and finding a way to protect these young victims," Supervisor Don Knabe said. "This is a great example of government and the private sector working together to shine a light on a travesty that is happening right here in Los Angeles County communities and neighborhoods."

The Clear Channel Outdoor advertising firm will include the ads on digital and traditional billboards across the county, officials said.

"Child sex trafficking is a horrible and growing problem in Los Angeles County and Clear Channel applauds the work of Supervisor Knabe and the county to bring attention to this problem in order to encourage residents to take action to protect vulnerable children," Clear Channel Outdoor Southern California Division President Lee Ann Muller said.

In early April, Metro distributed about 77,000 brochures on child sex trafficking, including tips on how to recognize victims and what steps to take. At the end of April, 15,000 brochures were released on Metrolink trains.

 (©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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