Make U.S. history: Pass the bill to end sex trafficking

A lifeline against sexual exploitation

Illinois has a unique opportunity to pass bill SB2391, a law that would transform the fight against sex trafficking and exploitation.

Senator Villanueva and State Representative Will Guzzardi introduced this bill after years of tireless advocacy from survivors, sex workers, and community organizations at the frontlines. This landmark bill actively works to prevent exploitation, protect those who are coerced into sex work, and provide survivors with a path to safety and stability.

Removing barriers to reporting human trafficking

Current Illinois laws criminalize sex work, forcing it underground, where abuse thrives, and traffickers prey on the most vulnerable. Survivors often fear reporting abuse due to potential legal repercussions since sex work is criminalized, allowing traffickers and abusers to exploit vulnerability and operate unchecked.

According to Yale Global Health Justice Partnership, criminalization exposes sex workers to an increased risk of violence from clients, law enforcement officers, and managers, and often make. It often makes it more difficult to find protection under the law in cases of violence or needed medical, legal, or educational services.¹

Research indicates that decriminalizing sex work can reduce violence and exploitation. The American Medical Association’s Journal of Ethics highlights that decriminalization can motivate more prominent recognition of sex workers’ human rights, thereby decreasing trafficking.²

Evidence also shows that decriminalization is part of an effective set of anti-sex trafficking interventions. When sex workers are not threatened with criminal charges, they are better able to defend themselves and identify and report cases of trafficking, violence, and abuse to authorities.³

How this bill will make a difference

SB2391 is a crucial opportunity to break this cycle and provide real protection for those most at risk—both sex workers and trafficking victims coerced into the sex trade.

Critically, SB2391 will empower people to report abuse without fear, reducing the power that traffickers and abusers hold over them.

An essential aspect of this bill is the expungement of past convictions related to sex work. These records often hinder access to housing, employment, health, and protection services necessary to reduce their vulnerability to future exploitation.⁴

Importantly, this bill does not ignore those who are coerced into the sex trade. While many sex workers engage in their work consensually, others are forced into it through trafficking or through economic desperation. This bill strengthens protections for victims of trafficking by ensuring that resources are directed toward identifying and assisting those in need, rather than criminalizing them.⁵

Additionally, this bill is instrumental in fostering trust between law enforcement and the sex work industry, which plays a huge role in fighting sex trafficking. Sex workers and allies will be able to trust that they can report abuse and exploitation without fear of causing further harm to the victims and getting prosecuted themselves.⁶

“This legislation is about fairness, safety, and dignity. By decriminalizing consensual adult sex work and removing harmful statutes, we’re taking a stand against outdated policies that do more harm than good”—State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago).⁷

Take action now

By passing this bill (SB2391), Illinois can provide protection to those most at risk, ensuring safety and dignity for all. This bill is more than legislation; it’s a step toward a future where everyone has the power to protect themselves from exploitation.

We urge Illinois lawmakers to pass SB2391 to protect the rights and safety of sex workers while strengthening efforts to combat human trafficking. This bill is more than legislation—it’s a lifeline. It’s a chance to prevent abuse, stop trafficking, and ensure that every individual has the power to protect themselves from exploitation.

Sign the petition today and demand action from Illinois lawmakers! It’s time to protect people—not criminalize them.