The Intersection of Sexual Violence in Labor and Sex Trafficking

Though federal law makes distinctions between sex and labor trafficking, this can have the impact of minimizing the need for sexual assault services to survivors of labor trafficking. Popular “rescue and extraction” responses also tend to minimize the sexual violence experienced in sex trafficking if the survivor is identified “first” as a sex trafficking victim. When the crime of human trafficking is isolated from other forms of violence, it is often at the price of survivor choice and bodily autonomy. Understanding the specific dynamics within human trafficking equips advocates to offer a better range of service options essential for human trafficking response protocols and networks. In this 60 min training, we will discuss the intersection of sexual violence in labor and sex trafficking, how sexual assault services can be offered and promoted within HT advocacy networks, and ways to improve referral practices within HT response teams.