Forging Communities of Sex Worker and Anti-Trafficking Activists

• In Event: Transactional Sex and Trafficking: Representations and Realities

Abstract

Limited work has examined the benefits and challenges of interagency anti-trafficking coalitions. Drawing from an evaluation of one such interagency coalition, the San Francisco Mayor’s Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking, this paper explores the benefits and challenges that arise from the inclusion of sex worker organizations and activists. The Sex Work & Trafficking Policy Impact subcommittee was created in response to concerns about how anti-trafficking efforts can increase dangers for people selling sex (regardless of choice, circumstances, or coercion). Findings from interviews conducted with agencies on the task force, participant observation of task force meetings, and a review of historical task force documents highlight how sex worker and anti-trafficking activists are working to find common ground. Although members have differing ideologies about commercial sex, over a third of those interviewed highlighted the importance and uniqueness of sex worker inclusion. This paper shares details about three important contributions attributed to this subcommittee: the Prioritizing Safety for Sex Workers Policy, the “Bad Date” list, and the review of the mandated human trafficking training for law enforcement officials. By identifying areas of goal alignment the result is a transformative anti-trafficking partnership, namely a task force that is bringing about tangible and systemic change.

Authors

• Alexandra Lutnick, RTI International

• Emily Sims, Concordia University

• Minh Dang, University of Nottingham