An interactive website called StopSexWithKids.ca was launched Monday as part of a multimedia provincewide campaign to fight child prostitution in Manitoba.

"Everyday in the streets of Winnipeg and in Manitoba, children are sexually abused," said Lianna McDonald, executive director of Child Find Manitoba. "Yet most Manitobans do not see it. They do not realize that it's happening. And they really don't know how to get involved."

The six-week campaign, which also includes television and radio public service announcements, outdoor signs and stickers, was created in partnership with the province and the National Crime Prevention Centre.

Manitoba Family Services Minister Gord Mackintosh said this is the first comprehensive public education campaign of its kind in the country.

"Some governments here and beyond have looked to these challenges and said, 'Look at it, let's not talk about them, they are difficult challenges. Let's hide them.' Well, we can't do that. We can't afford to because there's too much at stake," he said. 

According to StopSexWithKids.ca, about 400 children and youth, aged eight to 16 years, are sexually exploited on Winnipeg streets each year. The average age of a child's first sex trade experience is 13. Eighty per cent of the exploitation takes place in gang houses or "trick pads."

"The purpose of the campaign is to engage average Manitobans into action by educating them about the harm done to our children through this type of crime," McDonald said.