From Awareness to Understanding and Action
By Lisa Goldblatt Grace, LICSW, MPH
It’s the end of January which means Human Trafficking Awareness Month is coming to an end. Over the past 30 days or so there was an uptick in events, discussions, and informative memes relating to human trafficking. As the leader of an anti-trafficking organization, I should relish this time. It should feel like an incredible opportunity. Instead, after ten Januaries dedicated to awareness, it feels like a cop out.
There are three key things about this practice that are summed up in its name: Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
First, “Human Trafficking”. Our work, alongside our foremothers and other powerful leaders in the movement, helped move the understanding of the reality and complexity of human trafficking. This egregious form of abuse is a human rights issue of epic proportion. However, by talking about trafficking, we have perpetuated this idea that there are two parts of the commercial sex industry: trafficking and prostitution. In this dichotomy, those who are trafficked are victims while those in prostitution are perpetrators; those in trafficking are protected and those in prostitution are demeaned; those in trafficking deserve support and those in prostitution deserve derision. This is where we went wrong. At My Life My Choice, we believe that the commercial sex industry as a whole is inherently harmful. We believe that whether you come into this industry by physical force, emotional coercion, or by a simple lack of choices, the harm is universal. We believe that the story of the sex industry is one of gender-based violence, where predominantly (though not exclusively) women and girls are at the crosshairs of racism, sexism and classism. We believe that exploited youth can become invisible adults if not offered real supports and real options. So when we focus solely on those that meet the definition of “human trafficking”—the “good victims”—we are doing a disservice to those most vulnerable in our communities that are collateral damage of a violent, degrading industry.
Second, “Awareness”. At My Life My Choice, we ground our work in the principle that awareness won’t change lives, awareness won’t change behavior. Knowing that something is bad and that it happens, feeling bad for those it happens to and wanting things to change, is simply not enough. We must do more. Awareness must be exchanged for true training that shifts how people think, talk, advocate, and serve. It must change how we prevent and how we respond to exploitation.
Third, “Month”. The Awareness Month idea comes from a place of sincerity and hope—if we can focus on something for 28-31 days each year, we can make a difference on that issue. There is nothing inherently wrong with this notion. However, we haven’t done enough to insure that at the end of the month the proverbial needle has been moved. New policies are in place. New thinking is developed. New resources are available. Couldn’t we be charged with collectively doing more?
January has been Human Trafficking Awareness month since 2010. It is time we moved from awareness to action.