Without consequences for their actions, buyers continue to purchase sex and remain the driving force behind this industry. Shared Hope releases a bold new video that features law enforcement agents and prosecutors on what it takes to mobilize to end demand!
“One of the critical gaps in addressing sex trafficking is the failure to address demand.” – Christine Raino, Shared Hope International
Rarely Facing Consequences
Over the years there has been an overwhelming attitude of tolerance towards buyers—“the demand”—in the sex trafficking industry. This attitude stems from beliefs that buyers are justified to purchase sex, even from minors, because it is a “fair exchange,” he’s helping the victim financially, or that buyers are simply good guys caught in the wrong moment. Indeed buyers themselves have had very little reason to fear getting caught for their behavior because they have been rarely forced to face consequences that reflect the weight of their actions.
Fueling Demand
Tolerance does little to deter current and future buyers from purchasing sex. Quite the opposite, it has fueled a continual demand for more supply (victims). Overall, tolerance has been a major setback to efforts seeking to end the injustices of sex trafficking. This is why Shared Hope International is taking a stance against the tolerance for buyer behavior.
When caught, far too many buyers are simply let off the hook or, if convicted, not given severe penalties or jail time according to the Demanding Justice Report. As Sergeant Clay Sutherlin from the Phoenix Police Department explains, “There’s a large number of men out there that are looking for these girls, knowing that they can abuse them, rob them, rape them…and they’re going to get away with it.”
Shared Hope released a bold new video that features law enforcement agents and prosecutors on what it takes to mobilize to end demand!
Watch the Video
Taking Action
Visit demandingjustice.org to see news related to demand in your state. Or check out our latest report, the Arizona Field Assessment, to see how Arizona is working to fight demand through deterrence, enforcement and justice! Sign the Dear John Letter, an open letter to buyers.
Together, we can start bringing an end to demand and protecting further innocent lives from falling captive to the world of sex trafficking.
Carol Proctor Echard says
It brings my heart joy to see that there are people working working together in this world to protect the victims and stop the abuse of women and children. The police and prosecutors working together and enforcing consequences to the men that are creating a demand and funding the human trafficking horrors are to be highly commended. Thank you.
Carol Proctor Echard says
Human Trafficking is a horrible crime against humanity. So glad to see people caring enough to help put an end to it. Thank you to all those that help in any way, even to those just sharing videos to help raise awareness.
John D Bosley says
Great Video.
Men, we need to flood our minds with positive things and not the trash that is on the internet.
These positive videos about enforcement/punishment are very good tools for men to study and to realize that this is not a victimless crime.
J. Froehle says
Yes…I was married to someone for 20 years. During that time, he bought prostitutes as he traveled weekly for his job. Several times this became apparent, and in addition he once had a child porn magazine in his brief case in a brown manila envelope…it fell out of his brief case and I picked it up and looked inside. I went into a state of shock. The kids and I were being abused as he repeatedly lied to us…in addition he would say very degrading things to me often. I considered leaving a thousand times, and felt extreme fear that he would maybe then be alone with the kids, and I no longer trusted him. I also had no family around as he moved me far from family and isolated us. He knew what I know about him, so he would threaten my life. Filing for divorce made him be more aggressively abusive to me. I have been divorced for about 13 years. However, it stays in my mind that he purchased a child porn magazine…and when I asked why and what was he doing with this, his answer was “I bought it for someone at work.” I knew that was a lie, but lying is entirely the way he communicated with me always. My question is….does this type of person ever stop doing this, or do they just continue, considering he did get by with this behavior.
Jacqueline Chahine says
I’m so glad to see these criminals getting more than a slap on the wrist. If more men are brought to justice than other criminals will be less likely to attempt to purchase sex from minors which would decrease the demand. Thank you for all your efforts.
Jacqueline Chahine says
Great work,