COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING PRESENTERS AMY

COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING PRESENTERS AMY PEINE – CENTRAL MN SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTER apeine@cmsac. org CHUCK DERRY – GENDER VIOLENCE INSTITUTE gvi@frontiernet. net

WOMEN’S FOUNDATION OF MN JUNE 2012 REPORT 1 in 3 MN women report being sexually assaulted in their lifetime

WOMEN’S FOUNDATION OF MN JUNE 2012 REPORT 1 in 3 MN women report being victims of battering in their lifetime

RAPE & BATTERING POWER DYNAMICS

THE PROBLEM Relationship Sexual Assault 1 in 3 Minnesota women report being sexually assaulted by mid-life. Violence 1 in 3 Minnesota women has been a victim of intimate partner violence by age 40. Stats from the 2012 Minnesota Women’s Foundation

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? Social Norms

TWINS LAMP POST MARKETING OUTSIDE STRIP CLUBS IN WAREHOUSE DISTRICT

MALE CULTURE “Right of Passage” – from boys to men Strip Clubs Bachelor Parties

Prostitution COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CAN INCLUDE… Pornography Stripping Erotic/Nude Massage Escort Services Phone Sex Lines Private Parties Gang and Organized Crime-based Exploitation Familial Pimping Multiple Forms of Internet-based Exploitation

COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION SEXUAL ACTIVITY IN EXCHANGE FOR (OR THE PROMISE OF) SOMETHING OF VALUE q Money q Cell phone q Alcohol or drugs q Medication q Basic needs/survival q Shopping trips Food Clothing A place to stay Transportation/a ride Protection/safety q Luxury items q Other material items q Higher status in a gang

THE POWER OF LANGUAGE

WHAT IMAGES/THOUGHTS COME TO MIND WITH THESE TERMS? Prostitute/Whore/Ho Sexually Exploited Person Chose the life Against their will Makes lots of money Victim Drug Addict Wants a better life Street Corner Under control of someone else Persistent/In Your Face

“In prostitution, the conditions which make genuine consent possible are absent: physical safety, equal power with customers, and real alternatives (Hernandez, 2001). One woman in Amsterdam described prostitution as “volunteer slavery, ” a description which reflects both the appearance of choice and the coercion behind that choice. ” Farley, M. (2003) Prostitution and the Invisibility of Harm… Women & Therapy 26(3/4): 247 -280.

VIOLENCE IN PROSTITUTION Indigenous women in Minnesota (MIWSAC & Farley et al, 2011) Global study in nine countries (Farley & Butler, 2012) • 92% had been raped in prostitution. • 48% had been used by more than 200 sex buyers during their lifetimes. 16% had been used by at least 900 sex buyers. • 84% had been physically assaulted in prostitution • 72% suffered traumatic brain injuries in prostitution • 98% were currently or previously homeless. • 62% saw a connection between prostitution and colonization and explained that the devaluation of women in prostitution was identical to the colonizing devaluation of Native people. • 52% had PTSD at the time of the interview, a rate that is in the range of PTSD among combat veterans. • 71% had symptoms of dissociation • 92% wanted to escape prostitution • 95% of those in prostitution experienced sexual harassment that would be legally actionable in a job setting. • 65% to 95% of those in prostitution were sexually assaulted as children. • 70% to 95% were physically assaulted in prostitution • 60% to 75% were raped in prostitution • 75% of those in prostitution have been homeless at some point in their lives • 85% o 95% of those in prostitution want to escape it but have no other options for survival. • 80% to 90% of those in prostitution experience verbal abuse and social contempt which adversely affect them. • 68% of 854 people in strip club, massage, and street prostitution in 9 countries met criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder or PTSD.

"Like slave women on the auction block, African-American women are displayed on the streets or in strip clubs, surveyed like cattle, and selected to perform at the orders of a stranger. They are routinely berated and shouted at while being sexually assaulted, and are often slapped, beaten and pushed from cars. It is not difficult for thoughtful people to see the connections between slavery and prostitution. " - Vednita Carter, Founder and Former Executive Director of Breaking Free

“As far as I’m concerned, all prostitution is rape. ” QUOTES FROM NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN WHO WERE PROSTITUTED AND TRAFFICKED IN MINNESOTA GARDEN OF TRUTH REPORT 2011 “Prostitution is dangerous. It's like suicide. ” “When a man looks at a prostitute and a Native woman, he looks at them the same: ‘dirty’. ” “A john said to me, ‘I thought we killed all of you’. ” “There’s times I’d walk around in a space-out because when I stop and think about reality I break down and can’t handle it. ” “Women like myself need someone they feel they can trust without being judged by how they lived their life. We didn’t wake up and choose to become a whore or a hooker or a 'ho as they call us. We need someone to understand where we came from and how we lived and that half of us were raped, beat, and made to sell our bodies. We need people with hearts. ”

“It hurt like sexual assault. It damaged like sexual assault. It degraded like sexual assault. It was sexual assault… prostitution was abuse – paid sexual abuse” Rachel Moran, advocate, writer, and survivor (Moran, 2013, p. 111 -112)

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE FEMALES ARE ENTRAPPED INTO PROSTITUTION? 13 years old

THREE WOMEN IN MEXICO CITY PROSTITUTION COPYRIGHT © MELISSA FARLEY 2000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

SAFE HARBOR FOR ALL REPORT In 2017, the MN Legislature requested that a statewide strategic assessment of sex trafficking/prostitution in MN be conducted to identify and address the lived experiences of adult survivors. MDH hired a collaborative team of researchers to develop and conduct the strategic planning process. The Safe Harbor for All report engaged close to 300 survivors and stakeholders and contains 19 recommendations. These recommendations include reforming Minnesota statutes to support partial decriminalization: End the criminalization of adults being sexually exploited/prostituted and continue penalties for those who are exploiting/buying or trafficking.

SAFE HARBOR FOR SEXUALLY EXPLOITED YOUTH This law decriminalizes youth 17 and younger from criminal charges for prostitution. Through the No Wrong Door Act, the state of MN provides funding for safe housing, regional navigators, and supportive services for sexually-exploited youth throughout the state Commercial Sexual Exploitation: “occurs when anything of value or a promise of anything of value (e. g. , money, drugs, food, shelter, rent, or higher status in a gang or group) is given to a person by any means in exchange for any type of sexual activity. A third party [trafficker] may or may not be involved. ” (MDH definition)

WHAT IS THE MOVEMENT? Safe Harbor 4 All (SH 4 All) is a grassroots movement in Minnesota to end the criminalization of survivors (of all ages), hold exploiters accountable, advocate safety, open doors, and create communities free of sexual exploitation.

Adapted from the Advocates for Human Rights “Sex Trafficking and Prostitution: An Overview of Four Legal Response Models” handout We HAVE Criminalization of all aspects of prostitution, including victims of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation/prostitution (if they do not disclose a trafficker). Most of U. S. We NEED Partial Decriminalization (Safe Harbor for All) partial decriminalization identifies prostituted/trafficked individuals as victims and protects them from legal penalties and the harms of criminalization. Buying, exploiting, and/or facilitating the sale of sexual acts remain criminalized, often with increased penalties. Shrinks sexual exploitation industries. Sweden, Norway, Iceland, France, Israel Through MN’s Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Youth, we implemented a partial decriminalization model for youth <18, now we need to expand it to protect adults >18 Full Decriminalization Legalization Removes all laws prohibiting and regulating prostitution including those against pimping, brothel-keeping, exploiting, and buying. Increases demand trafficking, normalizes sexploitation, expands sexual exploitation industries. New Zealand Has a similar impact of full decriminalization but differs from decriminalization in that prostitution is legal but regulated and controlled by the government. These controls may include licensing, zoning, or mandatory health checks. Taxation incentivizes state-sponsored involvement in the expansion of the sexual exploitation industries. Expands. Germany, Brazil, Austria, a few counties in rural Nevada

COMPARING LEGAL MODELS Full Crim Ends the criminalization of adults who have been prostituted, sexually exploited, trafficked Provides services, housing, routes out Criminal penalties for traffickers Criminal penalties for exploiters/buyers SH 4 All Full Decrim

NEEDS BEING MET AND BARRIERS TO LEAVING

THIS ISN’T ‘PRETTY WOMAN’ v 80 -90% of prostituted people are dominated by a pimp/trafficker v 70 -95% physically assaulted v 60% to 75% were raped in prostitution v 95% chemically dependent v 70% have PTSD v 63% self-injured or attempted suicide v Half of deaths of prostituted women due to murder v Mortality rate is 200 x higher for women in prostitution than the general population

“A woman’s compliance in prostitution is a response to circumstances beyond her control, and this produces an environment which prohibits even the possibility of true consent. There is a difference between consent and reluctant submission. ” Rachel Moran, survivor of prostitution, as quoted in Robert Jensen’s The End of Patriarchy: Radical Feminism for Men p. 107

MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS

HOW TRAFFICKERS CONTROL VICTIMS Trafficker threatens/will hurt or kill her, her family, her friends, her pets, and/or destroy her property or finances Trafficker eliminates other options for survival Trafficker controls all finances Traffickers utilize drugs/alcohol to alter victim’s state of mind and to create addiction to ensure victim returns Trafficker’s behavior has been normalized by culture and past abusers

HOW A TRAFFICKER/ABUSER’S MANIPULATION IMPACTS VICTIMS The victim cooperates with abuser/trafficker for survival The abuser/trafficker has a dual role of both exploiter and rescuer Due to concerns for safety, victims may express negative feelings towards family, friends, outsiders, professionals, or authorities trying to separate them from the abuser Hypervigilant to the abusers’ needs and seeks to keep them happy Victim denies or rationalizes violence/abuse

“When you are in prostitution you internalize the violence. You hear the same repulsive things over and over. You are being called a sl*t, a wh*re, stupid and disgusting. But still, you defend your ‘free choice’ and say that prostitution is just ordinary work, because realizing the truth is so depleting. You dissociate yourself from the men and their actions, because no one has the psyche to be present in the acts of violence in prostitution. When you understand the complexity of violence, then you understand that prostitution can never be recognized as a profession, but that the only thing to do is to criminalize those who organize, maintain and exploit people in prostitution. This obviously included those who pay for the sexual violence, which the buying of sex is. ” - Tanja Rahm, Therapist, Educator, Advocate, Survivor (Norma & Reist, 2016, p. 80 -81)

. y t r e v o p f o t u o y a w a t o n s i n o i t u t i t s o r “P t a h t e s o h t d n a r o o p t i r e t n e m o w Most , r e r o o p n e v e p u d n e , t u o t e g a man y l l a c i s y h p , y l l a n o i t o m e d e r r a c s w o n t bu ”. y l l a t n e m d an – Mickey Meji, advocate and survivor

CUES TO HELP IDENTIFY CSE/T Social/Relational – § Physical – Signs of torture/abuse. Tattoos or branding. Frequently changes appearance. Malnourishment and poor dental health. § Mental – Fear and distrust. Dissociation. Extreme behavior. Trauma related disorders. PTSD symptoms. Family dysfunction. In relationship with significantly older men. Knows or has relationship with someone involved in The Life. Evidence of controlling/domineering relationships. Material – Possession of new things without financial means. Multiple cellphones. Wears clothing not appropriate for the weather. Other – Uses language commonly associated with The Life. Prior arrests for prostitution, drugs, theft, delinquency. Chronic homelessness.

SAFE HARBOR 4 ALL A POLICY MODEL TO END SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN MINNESOTA © 2020 SH 4 All-ITF | www. sh 4 all. org

SEVEN REASONS SH 4 ALL IS THE BEST MODEL FOR MINNESOTA 1. SH 4 All would make Minnesota a national leader to promote justice and fight oppression by ending the criminalization of adult victim/survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking. 2. SH 4 All will increase funding for housing and services and decrease barriers to survivors leaving (such as finding employment and housing) because of a criminal record. 3. SH 4 All raises awareness of the harm done to those being sexually exploited and promotes education, training, and understanding of survivors’ experiences. 4. SH 4 All will reduce the normalization of all forms of sexual violence, exploitation, and objectification (including sexual harassment, sexual assault, and legalized forms of exploitation in strip clubs and pornography)

SEVEN REASONS SH 4 ALL IS THE BEST MODEL FOR MINNESOTA 5. SH 4 All will promote increased visibility and accountability for exploiters and refocus criminal justice efforts on buyers and traffickers. 6. SH 4 All affirms that victim/survivors have a right to access housing, employment, support services, and report crimes against themselves freely without the threat of being charged for prostitution. These criminal charges further entrap victim/survivors and create lifetime obstacles that prohibit these rights and their subsequent escape from harm. 7. SH 4 All reframes responsibility and places stigma where stigma belongs —associated with exploiters rather than those being exploited.

WHAT CAN I PERSONALLY DO? (AS A MAN) Stop normalizing the sexual exploitation of women and girls Don’t sexually exploit women (i. e. porn, strip clubs, prostitution, marketing) Use your social influence to change the norms Interrupt the sexist jokes and comments… (Your silence is support) Help change organizational practices and public policy where you work, study, and live

WHAT CAN I PERSONALLY DO? Have conversations with co -workers, family, friends, peers, etc. about SH 4 All Write opinion/editorials to your local newspaper on why you support SH 4 All Invite the SH 4 All-ITF to come speak to your political or civic group, faith community, students, business, organization, etc. Ask local organizations and legislators what their position is on SH 4 All. Set up a meeting and encourage them to take a public position in support of SH 4 All. Sign petitions Share the website, invite your friends to like the FB page, and share articles about SH 4 All and the need for partial decriminalization in your networks Donate to local antiviolence organizations that support SH 4 All What are your ideas? What influence and platforms do you already have to amplify and provide support for the SH 4 All movement?

POLICY & INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE Adapted from: Spectrum of Prevention, Prevention Institute

Contact your local PD, sheriff’s office, and county attorney’s office and ask: What is your approach to ending the demand for the sex trade in our area? Are you doing demand reduction/”john” stings? Are these exploiters convicted, or only diverted and/or have to attend a program? What is your approach to working with people who have been WHAT CAN MY COMMUNITY DO? prostituted/sexually exploited? Are you arresting, charging, diverting, or punishing people who are being prostituted in any way? Set up a meeting with a group of people and encourage the criminal/legal system in your area to enact a SH 4 All model locally Contact local representatives, state senators, etc. to encourage public support for SH 4 All Invite the SH 4 All-ITF to come speak to your political or civic group, faith community, students, business, organization, etc. Set up a meeting with local organizations, business, and community groups to encourage them to take a public position in support of SH 4 All. Encourage employers to have a no-tolerance position for employees charged with solicitation, trafficking, sexual, and domestic violence Contact media/press and encourage them to post pictures of men charged with soliciting a person in prostitution (buyers say this is the number ONE deterrent!) What are your ideas? What influence and platforms do you already have to amplify and provide support for the SH 4 All movement?

Non-judgmental and kind Address emergency and basic needs first Open body-language—awareness of non-verbal communication Personal physical boundaries—touching may seem very invasive Meet them where they are at BEST PRACTICES TIPS FOR PROFESSIONA LS Harm reduction may be all you can do in the present moment create a short-term safety plan Patience! Even if the story is changing show patience. They may be checking to see if you can handle the real situation. It can be very difficult to admit or disclose that they are being exploited. Lying doesn’t mean there is no story, it just means they need to trust you before they are able to share the true story. Authentic and honest Don’t promise anything you cannot deliver (under promise / over-deliver) You do not need to have all the answers Separate person from others when doing assessment, intake, or interviews Refer to those who are trained and understand the realities, trauma, and healing of sexual exploitation. This could be an advocacy/victim services organization, a Regional Navigator, a social worker, therapist, a survivor support group, or others.

Protect victims and open doors. Center the vulnerable and marginalized. End the criminalization of survival. Shrink prostitution industries. Hold exploiters accountable. Create communities free of sexual exploitation. SAFE HARBOR 4 ALL

CONTACT WEBSITE www. sh 4 all. org EMAIL mnsh 4 all@gmail. com FACEBOOK www. facebook. com/MNSH 4 All

COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING PRESENTERS AMY PEINE – CENTRAL MN SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTER apeine@cmsac. org CHUCK DERRY – GENDER VIOLENCE INSTITUTE gvi@frontiernet. net