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The National Center on Sexual Exploitation is working towards a world where all are free to live and love without sexual abuse and exploitation. Our work seeks to serve those who have been impacted by these issues—including communities, parents, caregivers and loved ones—but above all those who have personally survived sexual trauma.

We know that survivors are lived-experience experts with key insights that must inform and guide policy, advocacy, and education efforts. As such, NCOSE is committed to being guided by survivors in order to amplify their engagement and leadership in the movement to end sexual abuse and exploitation.

The National Center on Sexual Exploitation is working towards a world where all are free to live and love without sexual abuse and exploitation. Our work seeks to serve those who have been impacted by these issues—including communities, parents, caregivers and loved ones—but above all those who have personally survived sexual trauma.

We know that survivors are lived-experience experts with key insights that must inform and guide policy, advocacy, and education efforts. As such, NCOSE is committed to being guided by survivors in order to amplify their engagement and leadership in the movement to end sexual abuse and exploitation.

*While we are dedicated to the service of others by paving the way to a world free of exploitation, please know we do not provide direct services or crisis care, and we are not local or Federal law enforcement.

Here is How NCOSE Accomplishes This:

1

Commitment to Ethical Engagement

NCOSE listens to survivors. We regularly consult and collaborate to better understand the realities and needs of those with lived experiences, especially to inform advocacy and policy initiatives.

Each survivor’s story is unique and her or his own. NCOSE works alongside experts with lived experiences to ensure maximum sensitivity when it comes to sharing survivors’ stories or depicting themes of abuse and exploitation in images or on film. The movement to end sexual exploitation must rise above its historic tendency to use sensationalized and/or hypersexualized stories and imagery to convey its message. Such stories and imagery can reinforce harmful stereotypes and re-exploit survivors.

NCOSE is committed to fair compensation for the time, work, and consultation given by experts with lived experiences and asks other organizations to do the same.

NCOSE recognizes that ethical survivor engagement requires constant reflection and evolution, and we are committed to routinely reviewing and improving our practices.

2

Exit Resources

NCOSE maintains SexTradeSurvivorResources.com to assist survivors with finding necessary resources to the sex trade or to connect them with services.

NCOSE connects survivors with coalition partners when assistance is needed, including helping people exit the sex trade. NCOSE works to ensure that service partners meet minimum standards of care and can help to find or offer wrap around services so survivors can thrive in both the short and long-term. These resources aid survivors in their transition and include housing, financial, job training, therapy, and other medical assistance and services.

NCOSE’s Law Center has built an alliance of attorneys around the country who are willing to offer pro bono legal assistance to survivors such as assistance with family court, related criminal offenses, financial, immigration, and more in order to ensure that survivors can move forward in their journey to freedom.

NCOSE’s public policy team is working to pass legislation that provides increased and reliable funding to programs for exit, restoration, and healing. A key way NCOSE advocates for increased, sustainable, and high-quality services is through increased accountability for sex buyers who must pay higher fines that directly address the immeasurable harm they cause.

3

Access to Justice

NCOSE’s Law Center files lawsuits on behalf of survivors, seeking monetary damages on their behalf and accountability for the kingpins of exploitation who profit from abuse.

NCOSE’s public policy team works to pass state-wide laws allowing for vacatur and expungement of criminal records when survivors are wrongfully charged as criminals

4

Amplified Voices

NCOSE provides backseat administrative infrastructure support to survivor-led projects such as assistance with organizing conferences, advocacy campaigns, as well as placing op-eds and other forms of media outreach.

NCOSE routinely invites experts with lived experiences to meetings with corporate executives, elected officials, and other key leaders.

NCOSE hosts world-class conferences and events which consistently provide platforms for survivor experts to present as well as providing honoraria, networking, and opportunities for promoting survivor campaigns and products.

5

Commitment to Learning and Growing

NCOSE proactively solicits input from survivors about how to improve survivor engagement and regularly reviews and adjusts its policies and practices to follow this guidance.

NCOSE staff and interns receive monthly trauma-informed training.

NCOSE seeks out cultural competency training.

Here is How NCOSE Accomplishes This:

1

Commitment to Ethical Engagement

Commitment to Ethical Engagement

  • NCOSE listens to survivors. We regularly consult and collaborate to better understand the realities and needs of those with lived experiences, especially to inform advocacy and policy initiatives.
  • Each survivor’s story is unique and her or his own. NCOSE works alongside experts with lived experiences to ensure maximum sensitivity when it comes to sharing survivors’ stories.
  • NCOSE is committed to fair compensation for the time, work, and consultation given by experts with lived experiences and asks other organizations to do the same.
  • NCOSE is committed to routinely reviewing and improving our practices.

2

Exit Resources

Exit Resources

  • NCOSE maintains the website SexTradeSurvivorResources.com to assist survivors with finding necessary resources to exit prostitution or to connect them with services
  • NCOSE connects survivors with coalition partners when assistance is needed, including helping people exit the sex trade. 
  • NCOSE’s Law Center has built an alliance of attorneys around the country who are willing to offer pro bono legal assistance to survivors  in order to ensure they can move forward in their journey to freedom.
  • NCOSE’s public policy team is working to pass legislation that provides increased and reliable funding to programs for exit, restoration, and healing.

3

Access to Justice

Access to Justice

  • NCOSE’s Law Center files lawsuits on behalf of survivors, seeking monetary damages on their behalf and accountability for the kingpins of exploitation who profit from abuse.
  • NCOSE’s public policy team works to pass state-wide laws allowing for vacatur and expungement of criminal records when survivors are wrongfully charged as criminals

 

Could I qualify for a lawsuit?

4

Amplified Voices

Amplified Voices

  • NCOSE provides backseat administrative infrastructure support to survivor-led projects such as assistance with organizing conferences, advocacy campaigns, as well as placing op-eds and other forms of media outreach.
  • NCOSE routinely invites experts with lived experiences to meetings with corporate executives, elected officials, and other key leaders.
  • NCOSE hosts world-class conferences and events which consistently provide platforms for survivor experts to present as well as providing honoraria, networking, and opportunities for promoting survivor campaigns and products.

5

Commitment to Learning and Growing

Commitment to Learning and Growing

  • NCOSE proactively solicits input from survivors about how to improve survivor engagement and regularly reviews and adjusts its policies and practices to follow this guidance.
  • NCOSE staff and interns receive monthly trauma-informed training
  • NCOSE seeks out cultural competency training

Have a question, comment, or are you looking for assistance?

Thank you for reaching out to the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. While we are dedicated to the service of others by paving the way to a world free of exploitation, please know we do not provide direct services or crisis care, and we are not local or Federal law enforcement.

If you are facing an emergency, please immediately call 911.