Say what you want about Ashton Kutcher as an actor, but he’s proven himself to be a human being of inspiring will and the utmost compassion off-screen. For those who don’t know, Kutcher has been waging a war against human trafficking over the last few years, saving the lives of no less than 6,000 people, if reports are to be believed.
The Origins of Thorn
As per PEOPLE, Kutcher and his ex-wife Demi Moore co-founded Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children in 2012. This organization was specifically aimed at identifying and rescuing child sex trafficking victims. What began as a dream of empowering those who had no voice has evolved over time, transitioning into a force making serious inroads against one of the most startling and truly despicable aspects of society: trafficking.
Impact and Statistics
The impact of the organization has been significant. A 2017 report stated that Kutcher and Moore’s brainchild—working closely with law enforcement—had helped to identify some 5,984 child sex trafficking victims. Additionally, the organization helped rescue 103 children from “situations where their sexual abuse was recorded and distributed.”
The nonprofit organization strives to create technology that can be used to defend innocent children from sexual predators. These days, they have full-time teams of staff and contractors from over 21 states working on the job. Reports suggest that Thorn has been responsible for identifying and stopping 6,608 perpetrators.
