International Organization for Migration Launches “Anyone a Victim” Campaign: Street Grace is encouraged, but has concerns

Last Monday it was announced that the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched Anyone a Victim, a global campaign that “calls for stronger action to prevent human trafficking and expand support for survivors.” The initiative seeks to mobilize public engagement, raise funds for protection programs, and highlight that trafficking remains a widespread human rights violation worldwide. The global campaign, called Anyone a Victim, “brings survivor experiences to the forefront and challenges misconceptions about who is at risk.” It highlights often overlooked stories and shows that trafficking affects people of all ages and backgrounds, encouraging public support for programs that offer safety, assistance, and recovery. Through this effort, the IOM “aims to build a broader movement that strengthens prevention and ensures that survivors are heard and supported.”

Street Grace agrees with those objectives and vigorously pursues them through our programs that include a 24 hour hotline and an array of direct services to survivors. However, few details of about the content of campaign’s messages and the policies they support are yet available, and we believe that it is likely that the entirety of Anyone a Victim is not fully aligned with our mission. 

For decades, United Nations organizations have consistently argued for the full decriminalization of prostitution, which they refer to as “sex work” in an effort to attempt to legitimate commercial sexual exploitation as a form of work. They argue that decriminalization would reduce stigma and improve health and safety outcomes, but the evidence from actual experience demonstrates that permissive polices only expand harm and place law enforcement at a great disadvantage in preventing and responding to sex trafficking.   

Some of the language in this new announcement suggests that the new campaign might also support full decriminalization, although it is not stated explicitly. For example, the announcement states that:

“…many survivors face stigma or fear reporting their experiences, while others struggle to access the services that can help them recover and regain control of their lives. By sharing lived experiences publicly, the campaign seeks to build understanding, counter harmful assumptions, and encourage collective action against exploitation. 

While we agree that survivors should not be stigmatized and should be provided support that improves health and safety, the UN focus on stigma and collective action is often part of their argument that criminalization impedes collective action and increases stigma, and that decriminalization is essential for their improvement.  Until there is an announcement by the UN that they have reversed their longstanding support for decriminalization of prostitution, we will assume that their initiatives supporting survivors also oppose the principles of abolition of the sex trade. 

At Street Grace, we are certain that most effective, evidence-based approach is to support survivors while also seeking the abolition through primary prevention (i.e., combating consumer level demand that provides the economic engine that makes sex trafficking possible).  We urge you to support programs that seek to end commercial sexual exploitation in all its forms through primary prevention, while helping those who invariably suffer while serving as the commodity of the sex trade.