It goes hand in hand: laws and policies can change social norms, while shifting cultural narratives can rewrite laws and policies. To end human trafficking and sexual exploitation, we need to do both. And neither can happen without the survivor-led movement.

Survivor leaders must be at the policy-making table, their voices and recommendations highlighted in the media. Here at CATW, we support survivor leadership, amplify survivors’ efforts, and join them in advocacy that will change laws and public opinion to end sex trafficking, sexual exploitation and sexual violence.

This collection of resources, op-eds and interviews produced by or with survivors sheds light on the realities of the sex trade and spotlights the legislative and policy solutions they know will generate real social change.

• The Life Story
• An Open Letter to all Presidential Candidates (2019)
• Make Human Trafficking “a Real Priority”
• Dear johns — an open letter to sex buyers
• How a Survivor of Sex Trafficking Made It Her Life’s Mission to Protect Victims and Educate Others
• Prostitution survivor in Worcester says it’s ‘about the exploitation,’ not about Robert Kraft
• Human Trafficking Survivors Share 5 Ways To Help End Practice
• A Group Of Women Who Were Sexually Exploited As Teenagers Want Their Prostitution Convictions Wiped
• Sex Trafficking Survivor Melanie Thompson on Why FOSTA-SESTA Is So Important
• OPINION: Towards the partial decriminalisation of the sex trade
• The Underbelly of the Sex Trade Industry
• Effective Lobbying Starts With Listening: How survivor voices drove the fight for passage of FOSTA-SESTA
• From “Sex Work” Advocate to Survivor Leader: A Journey Embraced
• Surviving prostitution: ‘Violence was my experience’
• Taken
• Blessing The Sex Trade In South Africa: A Sex Trafficking And Prostitution Survivor Testifies
• Survivors Say Nordic Model is Our Only Hope
• Marcela Loaiza: “I’m an inspirational example and that makes me proud.”

Thumbnail photo credit: The New Abolitionists/Lynn Savarese