March 19, 2025, Online Event
The conversation around sex trafficking and modern slavery has never been more urgent. With legislative changes underway in both the US and the UK, Freedom United invites you to join our upcoming online panel event, “Protecting rights, preventing harm: Rethinking laws to address sex trafficking”, on March 19.
The discussion comes at a crucial moment. Illinois is on the cusp of making history in the US. It could be the first state to decriminalize sex work and so strengthen protections against trafficking for sexual exploitation. A newly introduced bill offers a shift in policy that would help ensure cases of trafficking and exploitation are properly identified.
It does this by enabling sex workers to speak out against abuse without fear of legal persecution. This bill also protects people 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.
Meanwhile, in the UK, lawmakers are debating changes that criminalize the purchase of sex rather than sex workers themselves. Proponents of this bill argue that this model reduces sex trafficking by reducing the demand. However, research demonstrates that doing this pushes sex work further underground as buyers seek to avoid criminalization. And that stops sex workers seeking help and makes it easier for traffickers to exploit their victims.
The key questions we will be asking
We will be sitting down with speakers with the experience to answer the most pressing questions in the conversation around how to address trafficking for sexual exploitation, and how to improve protection for sex workers including:
- Is increasing the policing of the sex industry an effective way to find and protect trafficking survivors?
- How does the further criminalization of sex work affect trafficking victims and survivors?
- How does this issue affect society at large?
Why now?
With lawmakers actively shaping the future of sex work policies in both the US and UK to better protect people from exploitation, this webinar will provide crucial insights into the real impact of these laws and what is the most effective path forward.
Join us on March 19
Don’t miss this vital discussion. Register now to secure your spot!
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