Improving Responses to Human Trafficking and Violence Against Sex Workers
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While January was designated as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, human trafficking— the use of coercion to force people into engaging in any form of labor for one’s own benefit — is an issue year-round. Sex trafficking is one of many forms of human trafficking.
Unfortunately, rhetoric and policy proposals responding to the very real problem of human trafficking often conflate coerced trafficking victims with people who consensually exchange sexual services for money or goods — with harmful results for both trafficking victims and sex workers. “Cracking down” on sex work only drives it further underground while making it harder for trafficking victims to get help.