'Save Our Children' protest against sex trafficking and paedophilia

"We are here to end human trafficking," Halls Head mum-of-three Stephanie Devlin said.

"Child abusers get off too easily for the life-time of pain and damage they inflict on children who have their innocence and dignity taken from them."

Taking inspiration from hashtags that have been trending online in recent weeks, several dozen people gathered to criticise lenient punishments for child sex offenders.

"There needs to be tougher laws and suppression orders need to be lifted and the files need to be publicly available," Ms Devlin said.

Some protestors also claimed the COVID-19 pandemic was a cover up to take the focus away from this much bigger issue.

"Why are we still talking about a virus no more deadly than the flu while there are paedophiles running our government and Hollywood are trafficking our children right under our noses?" one sign stated.

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The 'Save Our Children' slogan has been used in similar marches and rallies around the world and the hashtags #SaveOurChildren and #SaveTheChildren have exploded in popularity this month, ever since model and social media influencer Helen Owen, who has over a million followers, used the latter hashtag in an Instagram post on World Human Trafficking Day.

Mandurah event organiser Erin Fisher said she was passionate about the issue because it had plagued her family.

"It's something that has had a big impact on my family members' lives," the Meadow Springs mum said.

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"There are now so many people who want to be informed, they want to help the kids.

"It's important to make some noise while people are listening.

"Our little spark can turn into a huge flame, and we can help make a difference."

Ms Devlin explained how her own heartbreaking story of abuse led her to join the protest.

"I'm a victim of sexual abuse as an adult and know the results of that - it completely destroys a life and I will continue to speak up against that," she said.

"Where is the justice for victims of sexual abuse and human trafficking? Why is our government protecting paedophiles at the cost of our children? There's a protest going on all over the world," Ms Devlin said.

"The past year a lot of things have come into light especially with global elite paedophile rings.

"There's so much corruption going on and it is disgusting the low fines the ones who are caught get away with.

"The things I've been awakened to and have seen have kept me awake at night.

"These kids have suffered in silence and it needs to stop," she said.

Many of the Mandurah protestors plan to join another bigger rally at Forrest Chase in Perth on Saturday from 5pm.

A similar protest was held in Albany last month.