On the subject of sex trafficking, it is probably important to point out that, like sex workers, anti-trafficking organisations are not an homogenous group.
Anthropologist Laura Agustin coined the term ‘Rescue Industry’ to describe the anti-trafficking industry which often ascribes victim status to women who have made conscious and rational decisions to migrate knowing they will be selling sex and who do not consider themselves to be victims. She states that such views on prostitution originate in what she calls ‘fundamentalist feminism’. Her articles and book are an edifying and compelling read. I got serious book jealousy reading Sex at the Margins because of her ability to take complex ideas and convey them in a very simple way.
http://www.lauraagustin.com/Among the worst of the fundamentals feminist organisations are the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW), Equality Now, Ruhama, Polaris (xtian), Not for Sale (stealth xtian), Love 146 (xtian), CNN Freedom Project
Somaly Mam Foundation (outed for fabricating story) & Apne Aap just to name a few. Their transgressions range from promoting stigma and discrimination against sex workers as well as trafficking victims/survivors to denying trafficking survivors a voice of their own (reciting their stories to the media) to imprisoning them in their “rehab facilities” sometimes without proper care, not enough rice and even denying them HIV medication (murder). As well as this, they call on the state to intervene in cases involving both sex workers and trafficked persons to take away their children, kick them out of their homes, deny entitlements to social security benefits (in countries where that applies) and to deport them or criminalise them for matters unrelated to prostitution.
In 2011, Nicholas Kristoff live-tweeted an brothel raid in Cambodia where he was present with police and Somaly Mam, for the entertainment of NYT readers. Sex workers labelled "trafficking victims" were filmed and identified coming out of the brothel in skimpy work clothes during the raids and arrests. This is apparently a appropriate way in which to treat “trafficking victims” according to Kristoff and his predatory ilk. None of the sex workers were underage, although he claimed they were and it is not hard to convince readers that this is true, since Cambodian people are very small and look very young, in part due to generations of malnourishment.
In fact, a large part of the “sex trafficking in SE Asia” narrative relies on this "look" to solicit donations. International Justice Misson (IJM) started their Asian campaign in India but later moved their main operation to Cambodia because they were able to raise more money in SE Asia, not only due to the youthful appearance of their targets, but presumably because people from SE Asia are more pleasing to the Western eye. They are not as dark as Indians.
http://www.lauraagustin.com/the-conceit ... aintlinesshttp://www.thewire.com/global/2011/11/n ... ves/44615/Additionally, there are hundreds of Christian anti-trafficking organisations, some funded by USAID as well as tithes from adherents, that operate throughout Asia & Africa. It might even be thousands. I don’t know whether their operations have ever been mapped, but they are plentiful ranging from large with hundreds of employees, to small operations with perhaps a husband and wife. They are generally out to convert sex workers to Christianity whilst “training” them to make jewellery or craftwork or work in coffee shops in low level positions or "read english" using only the bible. I have never seen any of these business operations where sex workers are placed in management positions or run these concerns autonomously. The managers and "trainers" are always white westerners, usually male. Reports to our member organisations of sexual assault and rapes have increased markedly in these countries, with the growth of the rescue industry. It is like there is a pool of available young women for predators to access without regulation or oversight.
Among the few ethical anti-trafficking agencies, the best would be the Global Alliance in Trafficking of Women, a network of about 120 organisations world-wide. GAATW is committed to working for changes in the political, economic, social and legal systems and structures which contribute to the persistence of trafficking in persons and other human rights violations in the context of migratory movements for diverse purposes, including security of labour and livelihood. They are critical of capitalism and are committed to dismantling oppressive structures that are the drivers for trafficking and abusive work conditions.
The critical difference between GAATW and the others is that they apply a human rights-based approach to addressing trafficking issues which means:
1. Non-discrimination on any grounds, including – singly or in combination - race, ethnicity, descent, sexual orientation or gender identity, religion, gender, age, migrant status, national or social origin, birth or other status, or occupation (including work in the informal sectors such as domestic work, sex work, etc.)
2. Primacy of the principles of accountability, participation and inclusivity/ non-discrimination in working methodologies, and organisational structures and procedures. In this respect, self-representation and organisation of those directly affected by trafficking are strongly encouraged and supported.GAATW supports the sharing of knowledge, working experiences and working methodologies amongst its members, in order to enhance the effectiveness of collective anti-trafficking activities.
They are the largest and most prolific anti-trafficking organisation to work directly with sex worker organisations, having acknowledged there critical difference between sex work and trafficking. They also recognise that sex workers are the people best placed to identify people who have been trafficked into the sex industry and to pro-actively work with sex workers' rights organisations to assist those who identify as forced or coerced, to migrate to a safer setting well away from the sex work environment and into a temporary supported environment. They understand sex workers’ reluctance to approach law enforcement in criminalised settings and have at times, provided resources and support to facilitate the safe passage of identified victims out of the industry.
They are the largest anti-trafficking organisation to publicly make the distinction between sex work and trafficking, and have also been critical of those organisations whose ideological approach hinders the work that they and sex workers' rights organisations are trying to do. They too, are based in Bangkok.
Here are a few of their most informative resources, statements and press releases -
Policy Brief - CRIMINALISING CLIENTS ENDANGERS SEX WORKERS AND CREATES BARRIERS TO EXITING SEX WORK: LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE ANTI-TRAFFICKING INDUSTRY
http://www.gaatw.org/advocacy/Bill_C-36-GAATW_brief.pdfWHAT’S THE COST OF A RUMOR? A GUIDE TO SORTING OUT THE MYTHS AND THE FACTS ABOUT SPORTING EVENTS AND TRAFFICKING
http://www.gaatw.org/publications/Whats ... 5.2011.pdfMOVING BEYOND SUPPLY AND DEMAND CATCHPHRASES - Asessing the uses and imitations of demand-based approaches in anti-trafficking
http://www.gaatw.org/publications/Movin ... TW2011.pdfWRITTEN STATEMENT TO THE 23RD SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY - The need for a critical approach to ‘demand’ discourses in work to end human trafficking
http://www.gaatw.org/statements/GAATWSt ... 5.2013.pdfUS bill to pressure countries that do not criminalise the purchase of sex must be dropped, say rights groups
http://www.gaatw.org/resources/statemen ... rop-hr4703GAATW-IS Statement on attack on UN research calling for the decriminalisation of sex work
http://www.gaatw.org/resources/statemen ... f-sex-workSTATEMENT 17 DECEMBER: INTERNATIONAL DAY TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST SEX WORKERS
http://www.gaatw.org/resources/statemen ... ex-workersGAATW’s Annual Publication Explores the Ultimate Costs of the Anti-trafficking Industry
http://www.nswp.org/news/gaatw-s-annual ... g-industryARTICLE BY A FORMER BOARD MEMBER OF THE GLOBAL NETWORK OF SEX WORKER PROJECTS ABOUT THE GENESIS OF THE COLLABORATION WITH GAATW AND THE RISE OF ABOLITIONISM. - Jo Doezema
http://www.isiswomen.org/index.php?opti ... Itemid=452