Rev. Dr. Marian Hatcher 
Shared Hope Policy Consultant 

Shared Hope International (SHI) has focused on demand deterrence and victim centered responses since its inception—clear-sighted that ending sex trafficking requires emphasis on both. One of the earliest research reports published by SHI, in association with the Hickey Foundation and Arizona State University, was the Demanding Justice Report in2014. This addressed demand for sex acts from children as well as enforcement efforts related to Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC).

That same year, I was privileged to be the recipient of the Pathbreaker Award for “determined leadership in pursuing the buyers of sex trafficking” on behalf of the Office of the County Sheriff, Thomas J. Dart. Since then, Shared Hope has continued to advocate for demand reduction, in particular by ensuring that laws against trafficking children and CSEC unambiguously include buyer conduct and include meaningful penalties to stifle demand.

This past January, Shared Hope ally Rights4Girls published new “Buyers Unmasked” research. As a survivor leader and expert on demand reduction, this was music to my ears! Not only did the release resonate with me as one who has participated in research of this type in the past, it resonated because it finally offered what survivors know all to personally: a look into the type of men who buy sex and the horrific impact they cause marginalized women and girls.

Demand is buyer driven, fueling and financing an industry built on intimidation, violence and lack of personal autonomy. The report uses the buyers own words to make clear their motivation and lack of concern or remorse for the buying of sex acts. I have personal experience with this, not only as a survivor, but as a civilian member of law enforcement.

From 2011 to 2019 I was responsible for coordinating the Cook County Sheriff’s Office National Johns Suppression Initiative. In that role I saw not only trends and attitudes, but the cooccurring dangers and criminal activities associated with sex buying.

Buyers would sometimes have children, even infants with them when to trying to purchase sex. I remember a buyer left his seven year old daughter in the car while they went into the motel. Another had an infant in the backseat while a loaded weapon was in the front seat.

While difficult to read, the sex buyers in this report reflect a community far from Hollywood’s Pretty Woman fairytale but rather embody the disturbing mantra of ‘your body, my choice.’ Their words reveal them to be fully aware and indifferent to signs of violence, trafficking, coercion, substance abuse and desperation in the women and girls they purchase for sex.”

Yasmin Vafa, Executive Director-Rights4Girls

Having collaborated with Yasmin since 2016, this report is a breath of fresh air. It addresses problems with the solution of the “Full Decriminalization” model which I have long espoused. This approach does not control or constrict the sex trade, it expands it trying to meet the supply. Fallout increases sex trafficking of adults and minors as well as increases organized crime.

The solution offered in the report is the “Survivor Model”, also referred to as the Swedish model, Nordic Model and Equality Model. The Survivor Model is in my opinion appropriate, as we are looking how we can best provide a solution for those involved in the sex trade to find their way out. The solution requires 1) exit strategies, 2) end exploitation by targeting demand for prostitution.

This report provides a roadmap that is hopeful, aligning with my personal and professional beliefs as a survivor leader as well as Shared Hope International’s principles. We look forward to partnering with Rights4Girls supporting this effort.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear directly from Yasmin Vafa, Executive Director of Rights4Girls, at the Closing Plenary of JuST 2025:
“Buyers Unmasked: Exposing the Men Who Buy Sex & Solutions to End Exploitation.”

🔗 Register now for JuST 2025: Get Your Seat 

 

Rev. Dr. Marian Hatcher
Shared Hope Policy Consultant

Great news, the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act (TSRA) H7139 has been introduced by Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC-7) in the 119^th Congress. Although it stalled at the close of the 118^th Congress, it now has strong bipartisan sponsorship with more than 50 sponsors. Once passed by the House, Senator Hyde-Smith (R-MS) is expected to lead in the Senate. The bill provides relief for survivors who were forced to commit federal crimes (misdemeanors or felonies) by their traffickers in order to survive their trafficking situation—the so-called, victim/offender.

This gives great hope to those of us who for years have been engaged in the difficult—yes, even contentious process of making progress in the anti-trafficking movement.

While the movement itself tends to be made up of silos with differing perspectives and missions and competition for funding, it is also occupied by the polarizing impact of those working to legalize the human rights violation that is called the “sex trade”.

After all, legalizing the selling and buying of sex certainly unburdens society’s collective conscience in matters of survivor recovery, let alone the pursuit of legislative efforts to provide direct services, programs, restoration of rights etc., to survivors.

Refusing the legalization argument leads to the extremely complicated intersection of victim and offender. The TSRA is a federal remedy that acknowledges the reality that many survivors of sex trafficking have been incarcerated for crimes they were forced or coerced to commit by the trafficker or survive their trafficking situation.

I was a victim/offender in Illinois, blessed with a second chance through jail-based treatment at the Cook County Department of Women’s Justice Services. After completing my sentence, I actually became an employee of the Sheriff’s Office in 2005.  Ten years later I helped coordinate the Global Summit to End Sexual Exploitation, hosted at the Carter Center to formalize policy proposals and to honor survivors just like me.

It was at this distinguished convening, that I had the opportunity to talk directly to the 39^th President of the United States about my experience as both a victim and an offender. I was humbled that I could engage on behalf of Sheriff Dart, a visionary and great humanitarian, with someone who also embodied those rare attributes.  I stated “Mr. President, I have been good for the last nine or 10 years, I work for law enforcement. I shouldn’t be a convicted felon”. President Carter shook his head in agreement and simply said “well done”.

In 2017, the Friday before Christmas I received a call from my attorney informing me that my application for Executive Clemency and Expungement was granted by then Governor Bruce Rauner.  It was the only remedy available for me, due to the narrow scope of the vacatur statute in Illinois. I am, however, grateful. It was a triggering experience to re-live my trauma to provide a detailed chronological application which basically required an apology for my own exploitation.  

It is our responsibility to survivors, known and unknown, to get the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act (TSRA) passed in the 119^th Congress. The reason is simply the words below. Rest in peace sir.

“The most serious human rights violation on earth is
the abuse of women and girls, and prostitution is the foundation
for all other abuses of women and girls.” 

 Former President Jimmy Carter May 2015

More resources:

• Unjust criminalization blog
• TSRA fact sheet
• TSRA Myths vs Facts
• Tell your elected officials to support the TSRA