| The epidemic of sex trafficking is a global issue that impacts all kinds of people. But too often, some people are disproportionately targeted for this kind of exploitation, specifically, Black communities. It is reported that 40% of sex trafficking victims in the U.S. are Black, despite Black people making up only 13.6% of the U.S. population. This significant statistic points to a disturbing trend of disproportionate racial discrimination in sex trafficking. Further... -
In a study done by the Urban Institute, traffickers reported that they believed they would receive less jail time for trafficking Black women as opposed to their white counterparts. -
Studies have also shown that adults view Black girls as less innocent and more adult-like than white girls, leading to them receiving less support and understanding when they are victimized. -
Sex traffickers prey on the vulnerabilities of Black women and girls The time for change is now. Read more about the intersection between racism and sex trafficking here. |
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| Ayesha’s (pseudonym) life was turned upside down when she discovered that sexually explicit videos of her had been posted to Reddit, a popular social media platform. Ayesha had never recorded these videos; she suspected they must have been filmed without her knowledge or consent by an ex-partner. As if this betrayal by her partner wasn’t bad enough, Ayesha was also subjected to vicious harassment by Reddit users who watched the non-consensually recorded videos. Someone had posted her personally identifiable information on Reddit alongside the videos, and soon Ayesha’s social media accounts were flooded with terrifying threats and blackmail messages. “If you don’t have sex with me,” one message read, “I’ll send [the video] to your parents. I will come and find you… If you don’t agree to having sex with me, I will rape you.” Ayesha stopped leaving the house. She stopped socializing. And eventually, she tried to take her own life. Tragically, Ayesha’s story is not unique. She is one of numerous women who have been victimized through image-based sexual abuse (the non-consensual creation or distribution of sexually explicit or sexualized materials) on Reddit. Read more about how Reddit is facilitating image-based sexual abuse and call on them to change! |
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| A California law decriminalizing loitering for the purposes of prostitution went into effect on January 1, 2023. It was argued that the former loitering ban unfairly discriminated against the LGBTQ+ community. Fox News interviewed NCOSE's Dr. Stephany Powell and her daughter Erin Wilson about how this is not true, and the new law further endangers minorities instead:
"The people that get exploited are going to be those groups of people that are the most vulnerable, and that will include [the LGBTQ+] group as well," she said, warning abuse is allowed to "run rampant" in a legalized system that does nothing to protect victims... "The path to safety and protection, it's a human rights issue, right? And in order to do this, you've got to enforce the laws. So [enforce] laws against pimping, trafficking, purchasing, while at the same time giving support and pathways for those that are being exploited," Powell added. Read more and watch the interview here. |
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