John Prendergast Speaks Out on Child Abuse

On tonight's episode of Law & Order: SVU, Mariska Hargitay fights against the use of children as soldiers and sex slaves -- a cause that's close to the heart of John Prendergast, president of the ENOUGH Project, an initiative to end genocide and crimes against humanity.

"We hope that by illuminating this issue through the television show, more people will become aware and demand an end to such atrocities," Prendergast -- who has paired up with boldfaced names like Angelina Jolie , Don Cheadle and Bill Clinton -- tells Usmagazine.com.

See photos of charitable celebs.

Continues Prendergast: "Change will come through awareness, just like with slavery, genocide, and other crimes against humanity."

"It's a powerful episode that I hope will bring awareness to viewers," Hargitay tells Us. "Not only are these children being abused and killed, they are being forced to abuse and kill others."

In the episode, entitled "Hell," a teenager escapes a lifetime of rape and terror in her native Uganda only to become a victim of violence in America. She and a pal who once served as a child soldier enlist the help of SVU detectives to capture a brutal army leader who escaped punishment in Africa.

The show airs tonight on NBC.



More news from Usmagazine.com

• Star Jones "Still" Feels Like She Weighs 300 Pounds
• American Idol's LaKisha Jones Is Pregnant
• Holly Madison : "I Hope I'm Not Going Home Next" on DWTS