Ashton Kutcher teared up as he testified about human trafficking at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Ending Modern Slavery: Building on Success hearing on Wednesday.
The actor, co-founder of Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children, an organisation that works to combat human trafficking, said he receives criticism for his work in human rights, but that he is doing it for his two children Wyatt, 2, and Dimitri, 2 months.
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Ashton Kutcher's quest to end sex trafficking
The actor gives an emotional testimony about his work with Thorn, his anti-trafficking foundation, at a Senate hearing.
"This is the time the internet trolls tell me to stick to my day job. Let me tell you about my day job," he said before explaining the work of Thorn to the committee.
Kutcher said he has seen victims of human trafficking in Russia, India, Mexico, New York and New Jersey.
![Ashton Kutcher teared up as he testified about human trafficking at the Senate Foreign Relations on Wednesday in ...](/web/20170217114403im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/e/2/t/q/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gue29p.png/1487202697722.jpg)
"I've seen things that no person should ever see," he said about going along on FBI raids.
To make a more powerful point, he added, "My other day job is I'm the father of two."
"I've seen video content of a child that is the same age as mine being raped by an American man," Kutcher said, tearing up. "She thought she was engaging in play."
"That's my day job and I'm sticking to it," he added.
![Kutcher said he has seen victims of human trafficking in Russia, India, Mexico, New York and New Jersey.](/web/20170217114403im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/e/2/t/7/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gue29p.png/1487202697722.jpg)
Kutcher discussed a web-based tool Thorn created, Spotlight, which is reducing the investigation time of trafficking cases by 60 per cent.
While explaining other Thorn tools, Kutcher said the Department of Homeland Security asked him a while ago if his organisation could help their efforts to find victims.
![Kutcher took wife Mila Kunis out for a Valentine's Day dinner before the hearing.](/web/20170217114403im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/p/k/b/7/j/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gue29p.png/1487202697722.jpg)
"I had to say no and it devastated me, it haunted me," he said. "For the next three months I had to go to sleep every night and think about that little girl that was being abused and the fact that if I built the right thing, we could have saved her. Now, if I got that phone call, the answer would be yes."
To help his efforts, he made recommendations, especially for financing.
Before the That '70s Show actor began his heartfelt testimony about his work, he blew a kiss at Senator John McCain.
"You were better looking in the movies," McCain said.
"My wife says that, too," Kutcher said.
Later in his testimony, the actor said McCain is "not only a war hero, but a hero to his issue."
"He, by the way, flew all night. He's working right now on a film," chairman Bob Corker said introducing Kutcher.
Corker said the actor had dinner with his wife, actress Mia Kunis, before taking a redeye to Washington D.C.
"Very smart man on Valentine's Day," the senator said.
McClatchy/Fairfax Media
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