We believe when empowered survivors are speaking the truth, the sex trade will truly begin to be dismantled
UNPRECEDENTED COLLABORATION OF SEX TRAFFICKING/PROSTITUTION SURVIVORS WORLDWIDE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The International Association of Sex Trafficking/Prostitution Survivors United is holding their inaugural board meeting in Washington, DC between October 17-21, 2012. This historic meeting of some of the most experienced and effective survivor leaders in the Western Hemisphere and Europe will launch an unprecedented collaborative effort among sex trafficking/prostitution survivors worldwide. Flying into the US capital from Canada, the USA, and Ireland to attend are:
Trisha Baptie, EVE, Educating Voices, Vancouver, BC
Vednita Carter, Breaking Free, Minneapolis, MN
Kristy Childs, Veronica’s Voice, Kansas City, MO and KS
Tina Frundt, Courtney’s House, Washington, DC
FreeIrishWoman, writer and activist, Dublin, Ireland
Cherie Jimenez, The EVA Center/Kim’s Project, Boston, MA
Stella Marr, Survivors Connect Network, Houston, TX
Bridget Perrier, http://www.sextrade101.com, Toronto, ON
Christine Stark, acclaimed writer and artist, Minneapolis, MN
For various reasons, most survivors have been working in relative isolation within the anti-trafficking movement. We believe the time is right for us to join forces as survivor-activists to lend our expertise, our voices, our trauma-focused and empowerment aftercare programs, our stories of transformation, and our passion for social change to the larger work of creating a world free of sex trafficking, which is another word for prostitution. Making distinctions between sex trafficking and prostitution is harmful and misleading. It marginalize those that are trapped and suffering.
Our organization will raise funds for survivor-led programs helping women exit prostitution and recover from the extensive trauma. We will continue educating the public on the reality of sex trafficking/prostitution from those who not only have survived it but are on the front lines with those that are still trapped and still not being recognized as victims. Additionally, we will urge anti-trafficking organizations to empower survivors by opening doors and funding opportunities, recognizing the expertise that we bring to this movement, and hiring survivor leaders. Our work will connect survivors, strengthen our voices and put us at the heart of the anti-trafficking movement where we belong.
We’ll also advocate for funds for services to help the victims of prostitution/trafficking and continue to grow our survivors network, while developing a speakers and writers group to help get more survivor voices into the public consciousness. This combination of raising funds, networking survivors and expanding the voices of survivors will lead to more survivor empowerment, and ultimately more resources to help girls and women exit and recover.
About the International Association of Sex Trafficking Survivors Survivors United
(AKA Prostitution)
The International Association of Sex Trafficking Survivors United (AKA Prostitution) is a fledging soon-to-be nonprofit organization dedicated to uniting the energy, efforts and voices of sex trafficking/prostitution survivors everywhere while making their work sustainable so we can end sex trafficking/prostitution in our lifetime. We believe when empowered survivors that have had extensive time in “the Life” understand their experiences and are speaking the truth, along with those that support survivors, the sex trade will truly begin to be dismantled.
Already with 60 members, 25 of whom are running their own effective nonprofit organizations, our coalition provides more services to victims while educating the public than any single anti-sex trafficking NGO in the USA and Canada. Additionally, we operate a private network that provides community and support for survivors. All members of our organization are abolitionists who agree that to end trafficking/prostitution we must address demand and focus on providing more choices and empowering recovery services for the victims.
The International Association of Sex Trafficking/Prostitution Survivors United is the organization that has grown out of Survivors Connect Network. We hope to take our activism to the next level of empowerment via survivor-led programs being funded as a coalition and creating a communications bureau where we advocate that survivors are paid for speaking engagements and educational work so their activism is sustainable. The network will remain as important as ever.
Related articles
- 52 Trafficking/Prostitution Survivors Vote to Support Irish Survivor Abolitionists’ Efforts (secretlifeofamanhattancallgirl.wordpress.com)
- Child Prostitution, Adult Prostitution, and the Obscure In-Between (secretlifeofamanhattancallgirl.wordpress.com)
- Rep. Carolyn Maloney: We Insist on Your Dignity (huffingtonpost.com)
- 52 Trafficking/Prostitution Survivors Vote to Support Irish Survivor Abolitionists’ Efforts (survivorsconnect.wordpress.com)
- Child Prostitution, Adult Prostitution, and the Obscure In-Between (survivorsconnect.wordpress.com)
Powerfully said and written, especially your words on decreasing isolation and uniting. I can not image what type of courage it takes for girls and women experiencing this type and level of trauma to step forth and stand in the power of their beingness and their magnificent voices – no longer silenced.
This is wonderful news. Heartfelt blessings for success!
Laura
about time I say. very good piece !
Very excited for you all, your wonderful new group, and all the amazing work you do and will do in the future!
Keep up the good work and be the voice for your cause. Dont give up. Sometimes you may feel alone, and maybe wondering why am I doing this. There are not alot of people in this world who stand up for there own values, ideas, and morals. This will get you now where people will say. But the ones who say that never get anywhere because they dont try. You are a blessing to all who you fight for.
I hope the conference yields a lot of good ideas, support for funding and networking!
So glad to read about your upcoming conference. Given the dedication, determination, intelligence and just plain gutsiness of the participants, it’s bound to be productive!
I wish you all the very best. This is where action is desperately needed; there’s no such thing as enough action in these circumstances.
So awesome to see so many come together to educate about and battle against this evil! Blessings on you all.
I’m glad the group is getting organized. I always felt that something should be done, but where does one start.
Wonderful words, and a great thing to be doing.
My motto is “What we can’t do alone, we can do together”.
Whilst my path is on a very different curve, the feeling of ‘oneness’ your blog gives me resonates with my own experience of ‘otherness’ caused by the diagnosis of dementia.
Good luck with it. xo
Reblogged this on Ardentmeld's Blog and commented:
Thanks Love for getting this out!
We believe when empowered survivors are speaking the truth, the sex trade will truly begin to be dismantled
UNPRECEDENTED COLLABORATION OF SEX TRAFFICKING/PROSTITUTION SURVIVORS WORLDWIDE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The International Association of Sex Trafficking/Prostitution Survivors United is holding their inaugural board meeting in Washington, DC between October 17-21, 2012. This historic meeting of some of the most experienced and effective survivor leaders in the Western Hemisphere and Europe will launch an unprecedented collaborative effort among sex trafficking/prostitution survivors worldwide.