Shared Hope stands with survivors of sex trafficking and opposes D.C. Bill 23-0318, Community Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2019. Supported by the lived experiences of survivors and our 20+ years of work in the field, it is indisputable that legislation to decriminalize the purchase and sale of another for sex will both perpetuate and normalize harm against already vulnerable communities and populations, especially youth. In fact, the only reliable way to protect survivors who have been positioned through force, fraud, coercion or circumstance to engage in commercial sex is to eliminate criminal liability specifically for them and instead, provide access to specialized services. Indeed, this move will prevent future exploitation and radically shift a culture that standardizes the commodification of human beings.
Our position on this bill echoes our policy priorities over the last 10 years. Since 2010, we have been advocating for meaningful protections for survivors of child sex trafficking, including non-criminalization laws and the development of comprehensive care and services. We have seen enormous progress in this area of law; resultantly, we have witnessed a radical shift in how survivors and perpetrators are regarded. In fact, 29 states and D.C. have passed critical legislation to correct the historic injustice of holding minors accountable for their own victimization and providing a pass to offenders. Efforts like D.C. Bill 23-0318 will not only undermine this progress but will revert the District to a place that is unsafe for vulnerable populations and friendly to those who wish to exploit them.
Contrary to its name, D.C. Bill 23-0318 will not increase the safety and health of individuals who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing commercial sexual exploitation. The bill, and the supporters of it, seem to ignore the hundreds of sex trafficking survivors who are unwavering in their fear and belief that D.C. Bill 23-0318 will drastically reduce the safety and well-being of current trafficking victims and persons at risk of exploitation. Despite a demand for the provision of holistic services and meaningful criminal justice reform to benefit trafficking survivors and self-identified sex workers alike, this bill provides neither.
As we call on the D.C. Councilmembers to prioritize the true safety and well-being of our communities and oppose the Community Safety and Health Amendment Act of 2019, we have also compiled some ways that you can share your voice in opposing this legislation.
Action for DC residents:
Sign up to testify in person. Email the Judiciary Committee at judiciary@dccouncil.us. Provide your name, telephone number, organizational affiliation, and title (if any) by close of business on Monday, October 14.
Tweet and/or email the D.C. Councilmembers through our “Oppose D.C. Decrim” campaign.
Tweet using the hashtags #Stop318DC, #ProtectSurvivorsNOTBuyers, #FullDecrimHurtsEveryone
Action for everyone:
Tweet and/or email the D.C. Councilmembers through our “Oppose D.C. Decrim” campaign.
Tweet using the hashtags #Stop318DC, #ProtectSurvivorsNOTBuyers, #FullDecrimHurtsEveryone
And as everyone at Shared Hope is packing our bags to head to Cincinnati for the JuST Conference, we are thankful for our allies who will be on the ground at the hearing. To stay up to date on the efforts to oppose this legislation, follow these key allies on social media for regular updates on the DC decrim effort: @rights4girls, @Courtneyshouse, @NCOSE, @DCChildrensLaw, @WorldWEUS