This is where the rest of the civilized society must step up. We should use Women’s History Month to launch a global campaign that challenges anti-woman narratives and addresses hostile systems harming children. Utilizing the Epstein files, we must expose and bring pedophiles to justice. Our children deserve to feel protected and cared for, yet we are currently failing to ensure their emotional, mental, and physical safety.

The campaign would significantly contribute to the healing process for the victims of Epstein, which has been hindered by the MAGA administration. Trump and his Department of Justice have clearly demonstrated that they prioritize the interests of wealthy, white elites over the restitution for the victims. The MAGA supporters have violated the Transparency Act by delaying the release of the complete Epstein files. Even more troubling is the unnecessary redaction of the names of the co-conspirators, while the names and contact information of re-traumatized victims are made public.

Women and girls in the U.S. who are victims of sexual assault often struggle to obtain justice in our gendered and racist court system. The dedicated and persistent efforts of women and child advocates to humanize the court system seem insignificant when faced with an international scandal like the Epstein case. The script gets flipped, and the victims are vilified. Too often, they are forced to decide that the emotional and financial price of proving their innocence is too high.

For our own civility and sanity, we need to bring the perps in our midst to justice with criminal charges and appropriate sentences. Not the secret sweetheart deal that Epstein received back in 2008. Not only was this pervert given a light sentence of 18 months, but he was also allowed to go to “work” during the day and return to cushy accommodations at night. Epstein’s plea deal avoided the more serious federal charges, including a possible life sentence.

We may never know if the child trafficking scheme would have ended with Epstein’s 2008 conviction. What is clear is that Gislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein received a green light to continue their criminal enterprise, supported by depraved backers. As authoritarianism threatens democracy, the lawlessness stemming from unchecked powers makes it harder to pursue a civil, inclusive society. Motivated by the innocence of our children, we must take on the formidable task of uprooting any present harm to them for the sake of their healthy futures and our humanity.