When there are enough empowered survivors speaking out the sex industry will be dismantled
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sex Trafficking Survivors United is holding their inaugural board meeting in Washington, DC between October 17-21, 2012. This historic meeting of some of the most experienced and effective survivor leaders in the Western Hemisphere and Europe will launch an unprecedented collaborative effort among sex trafficking/prostitution survivors worldwide. Flying into the US capital from Canada, the USA, and Ireland to attend are:
Trisha Baptie, EVE, Educating Voices, Vancouver, BC
Vednita Carter, Breaking Free, Minneapolis, MN
Kristy Childs, Veronica’s Voice, Kansas City, MO and KS
Natasha Falle, http://www.sextrade101.com, Toronto, ON
Tina Frundt, Courtney’s House, Washington, DC
Cherie Jimenez, The EVA Center/Kim’s Project, Boston, MA
Stella Marr, Survivors Connect Network, Houston, TX
Bridget Perrier, http://www.sextrade101.com, Toronto, ON
Christine Stark, acclaimed writer and artist, Minneapolis, MN
For various reasons, most survivors have been working in relative isolation within the anti-trafficking movement. We believe the time is right for us to join forces as survivor-activists to lend our expertise, our voices, our trauma-focused and empowerment aftercare programs, our stories of transformation, and our passion for social change to the larger work of creating a world free of sex trafficking, which is another word for prostitution. Making distinctions between sex trafficking and prostitution is harmful and misleading. It marginalize those that are trapped and suffering.
Our organization will raise funds for survivor-led programs helping women exit prostitution and recover from the extensive trauma. We will continue educating the public on the reality of sex trafficking/prostitution from those who not only have survived it but are on the front lines with those that are still trapped and still not being recognized as victims. Additionally, we will urge anti-trafficking organizations to empower survivors by opening doors and funding opportunities, recognizing the expertise that we bring to this movement, and hiring survivor leaders. Our work will connect survivors, strengthen our voices and put us at the heart of the anti-trafficking movement where we belong.
We’ll also advocate for funds for services to help the victims of trafficking/prostitution and continue to grow our survivors network, while developing a speakers and writers group to help get more survivor voices into the public consciousness. This combination of raising funds, networking survivors and expanding the voices of survivors will lead to more survivor empowerment, and ultimately more resources to help girls and women exit and recover.
About the International Association of Sex Trafficking/Prostitution Survivors Survivors United
Sex Trafficking Survivors United is a fledgling soon-to-be nonprofit organization dedicated to uniting the energy, efforts and voices of sex trafficking/prostitution survivors everywhere while making their work sustainable so we can end sex trafficking/prostitution in our lifetime. We believe when empowered survivors that have had extensive time in “the Life” understand their experiences and are speaking the truth, along with those that support survivors, the sex trade will truly begin to be dismantled.
Already with 60 members, 25 of whom are running their own effective nonprofit organizations, our coalition provides more services to victims while educating the public than any single anti-sex trafficking NGO in the USA and Canada. Additionally, we operate a private network that provides community and support for survivors. All members of our organization are abolitionists who agree that to end trafficking/prostitution we must address demand and focus on providing more choices and empowering recovery services for the victims.
Sex Trafficking Survivors United has grown out of Survivors Connect Network. We hope to take our activism to the next level of empowerment by seeking funding for survivor-led programs that meet our best practices criteria as a coalition and creating a speakers group where we advocate that survivors are paid for speaking engagements so their activism is sustainable. The network will remain as important as ever.
EMAIL: sextraffickingsurvivorsunited@gmail.com
CONTACT: Stella Marr, 832 368-3899, texts welcome
Related articles
- 52 Trafficking/Prostitution Survivors Vote to Support Irish Survivor Abolitionists’ Efforts (secretlifeofamanhattancallgirl.wordpress.com)
- Child Prostitution, Adult Prostitution, and the Obscure In-Between (secretlifeofamanhattancallgirl.wordpress.com)
- Rep. Carolyn Maloney: We Insist on Your Dignity (huffingtonpost.com)
stellamarr
This is very exciting! I wish that I could attend.
Me too darling. It’s going to be mostly a nuts and bolts meeting — we’re trying to figure out how we can set things up so we can raise funds as a group and distribute them equitably to all suvivor-led organizations that meet our best practices standards– and we also want to create a speaker’s division and be vocal about the need for survivors to be paid for appearing at conferences so our work’s sustainable. Love you xoxo
Reblogged this on You think I just don't understand, but I don't believe you. and commented:
Good luck, sisters. Good work.
I so sorry not to be with you all – I must get my act together and actually get a passport, and ignore my mental block about this. Loads of love to everyone xxxxx
Excellent!!! This is so needed and I am glad you are making it happen. Let us know how we can help.
PLEASE let us know if you have any information, contacts or ideas for us on the Google AdWords/human traffickinng issue…….more info at http://www.stopslavery2012.com
Your input would e extremely appreciated!
peace,
phil
PROUD OF YOU LADIES!!! You are an inspiration to all of us allies and survivors out here who need to see your leadership and hear your voice loud and clear. You each are a force to reckon with individually; I get chills thinking about the COLLECTIVE power you have to make positive changes toward ending sex trafficking and helping other survivors find their own voices!!! Thank you! xo
There needs to be an end to the bullying of survivors from those within the antitrafficking movement who seek to gain from our pain but who truly lack compassion!
[...] With A Phone Call, Truckers Can Fight Sex TraffickingSex Trafficking Survivors Unite [...]
I want to be a part of this. what can I do?
Got to http://www.survivorsconnect.groupsite.com and fill out the form — we will be in touch. There is a screening process. Thank you for your kindness, honesty and support. Much love