Shared Hope has been a leader on policy research in the field of child and youth sex trafficking for over 20 years, working to ensure federal, state, and local policies are rooted in and supported by research and promising practices. Shared Hope’s Policy Team provides technical assistance and advocacy support to Congressional and state legislators seeking research-based, […]
Fact Sheet: Protecting Trafficking Survivors from Unjust Criminalization
Protecting Trafficking Survivors from Unjust Criminalization Due to the power and control exercised by their traffickers, victims are often compelled or forced to commit crimes they otherwise would not. These crimes can range from prostitution and related charges to drug possession, or even more serious crimes such as trafficking itself. These “victim–offenders,” or survivors who […]
Too Old For the System, But Not for Exploitation: Foster Youth “Aging Out” of Foster Care Expands Vulnerabilities to Commercial Sexual Exploitation
By: Camryn Peterson, Advocacy Manager To truly end child and youth sex trafficking, we must not turn a blind eye to the systems that overlap with commercial sexual exploitation of children. As we reflect on National Foster Care month, we take a closer look at how involvement in foster care increases the risk of sex […]
A Call to Action: How Current Federal Legislation Could Impact Protections for Child Sex Trafficking Victims
Under the Advanced Legislative Framework, released by Shared Hope International in 2020, additional focus is given to several issues of national importance, including encouraging harm prevention for survivors in the juvenile justice system, mandating trauma-informed trafficking training for relevant state agencies, and increasing access to services for minor victims. The Framework analyzes the adoption of […]
Toward Dignity, Respect, Equality and Equity: A Black History Month Reflection on the Trafficking and Criminalization of Black Women and Girls
Dr. Marian Hatcher Shared Hope Policy Consultant, Ambassador-at-Large (United Nations) Black History month focuses on the accomplishments and successes and richness of Black history, and rightly so. It also invokes underlying racial disparities in many areas of society. Poverty, education, and housing insecurity come to mind of course. Another area where this disparity is especially […]
