Hey Fighters, Clay Olsen here.
I know we’ve talked a lot about Nepal in the last few months, especially in connection with our annual #StopTheDemand campaign that raises awareness on pornography’s role in fueling and perpetuating sex trafficking. I recently partnered with our friends at HELP International and got to visit this beautiful country for myself, and I just have to share what’s going on over there.
3 days, 12 schools, 1,000 students
Nepal was an absolutely incredible experience—it is such a beautiful country with beautiful people. Before arriving, HELP International had arranged for me to speak to over a thousand students in 12 schools in just three days. It was exhausting…and so much fun. The Nepali students were bright, receptive, and interested in being a part of the solution.
In addition to speaking, I was also able to visit a shelter for young girls who had been sexually abused or trafficked called Raksha Nepal. Upon arriving, I was welcomed by the girls and staff with song and dance. I was blown away. Everyone I met was so kind, innocent, and loving. I could see the hope they had for their future. As I heard some of their amazingly challenging stories, I ached for each one of them. It was a reminder to me of why we do what we do—why we fight for real love and for those who struggle, and of course, why we fight for those who are victimized.
The commitment of Raksha Nepal to stop human trafficking and pornography according to the Nepal government’s policy is so cool to see up close, and it was such a marvelous opportunity to educate boys and girls all over the area about the science and research they may not have been aware of. Each of them seemed so enthusiastic and committed to fighting alongside us against sexual exploitation and for real relationships.
Here are just a select few of the photos I took while in Nepal, all while exploring the city, presenting at schools and community groups, and being welcomed by Raksha Nepal. Check them out:
As we learn more and more about the role pornography plays in social challenges such as child sex abuse and human trafficking, it begs the question, can we really solve these issues without also addressing our relationship with porn?
How can we not fight in the face of exploitation?
I’m so proud of our Fighters who raised over $10,000 during our #StopTheDemand campaign in May to help pay for food, rent, and counselors for the girls at this exact shelter. Seeing where that money will go and how that will directly help impact these wonderful people is incredibly humbling. I’m grateful that we had the chance to work alongside incredible organizations like HELP International, without whom none of this would have been possible.
I cannot wait to go back, and see how our global Fighter community has helped to support these incredible survivors and volunteers. What we do makes a difference, so keep fighting for love and fighting to give visibility to the thought-provoking and life-changing science and research.
Until next time,
Clay Olsen
Co-Founder & President
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Be a part of this movement’s support of survivors in Nepal. DONATE to HELP International and partner with Raksha Nepal in impacting these girls’ lives.
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Your Support Matters Now More Than Ever
Most kids today are exposed to porn by the age of 12. By the time they’re teenagers, 75% of boys and 70% of girls have already viewed itRobb, M.B., & Mann, S. (2023). Teens and pornography. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense.Copy —often before they’ve had a single healthy conversation about it.
Even more concerning: over half of boys and nearly 40% of girls believe porn is a realistic depiction of sexMartellozzo, E., Monaghan, A., Adler, J. R., Davidson, J., Leyva, R., & Horvath, M. A. H. (2016). “I wasn’t sure it was normal to watch it”: A quantitative and qualitative examination of the impact of online pornography on the values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of children and young people. Middlesex University, NSPCC, & Office of the Children’s Commissioner.Copy . And among teens who have seen porn, more than 79% of teens use it to learn how to have sexRobb, M.B., & Mann, S. (2023). Teens and pornography. San Francisco, CA: Common Sense.Copy . That means millions of young people are getting sex ed from violent, degrading content, which becomes their baseline understanding of intimacy. Out of the most popular porn, 33%-88% of videos contain physical aggression and nonconsensual violence-related themesFritz, N., Malic, V., Paul, B., & Zhou, Y. (2020). A descriptive analysis of the types, targets, and relative frequency of aggression in mainstream pornography. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 49(8), 3041-3053. doi:10.1007/s10508-020-01773-0Copy Bridges et al., 2010, “Aggression and Sexual Behavior in Best-Selling Pornography Videos: A Content Analysis,” Violence Against Women.Copy .
From increasing rates of loneliness, depression, and self-doubt, to distorted views of sex, reduced relationship satisfaction, and riskier sexual behavior among teens, porn is impacting individuals, relationships, and society worldwideFight the New Drug. (2024, May). Get the Facts (Series of web articles). Fight the New Drug.Copy .
This is why Fight the New Drug exists—but we can’t do it without you.
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Will you join us? We’re grateful for whatever you can give—but a recurring donation makes the biggest difference. Every dollar directly supports our vital work, and every individual we reach decreases sexual exploitation. Let’s fight for real love: