CATW Biennial Report 2008/2009 The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women CATW’s Table of Mission Contents FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIREctOR 29 Defeat of Proposition K in San Francisco, California CATW at THE UN 30 CATW at the New York Bar The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women 06 Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 2008 International (CATW) is a non-governmental 07 Commission on the Status of Women CATW NEWS (CSW) 2009 31 Multidimensional Security Against organization that promotes women’s human 08 Geneva and Vienna Organized Crime in Latin America 32 Sigma Huda Released from Jail CATW AROUnd THE WORLD 33 CATW Honors Congressional Anti-Slavery rights by working internationally to combat 09 Political Progress with CATWA — Coalition Champion of 2008 Award Recipient Against Trafficking in Women — Australia sexual exploitation in all its forms. Founded 10 Law Enforcement Workshops in Latin ADVOcacY and THE ARTS America and the Caribbean (CATW-LAC) 34 A Conversation Among Men About Sex in 1988, CATW was the first international 11 CATW Activists Stand Up for Human Trafficking Rights in Seoul, Korea 35 The New Abolitionists non-governmental organization to focus on 13 IROKO: Moving On CATW REMEMBERS 14 Investigations and Rescues in West Africa 36 Norma Hotaling 16 A Better World Is, Indeed, Possible human trafficking, especially sex trafficking 37 Louise Armstrong (CATW-AP) 38 Florence Rush of women and girls. CATW obtained 18 The European Union 19 the nia project Category II Consultative Status with the 20 Programs for Migrants and Potential The quotations throughout this report have been Victims of Human Trafficking in Georgia excerpted from panel discussions, performances, United Nations Economic and Social Council CATW IN ActION and videos produced by CATW and our partner 22 A Centre for Immigrant Women in organizations. in 1989. It is a fundamental human right to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 23 Prostitution Policy in Belgium be free of sexual exploitation in all its forms. 24 Incremental Changes of Prostitution The flower illustrations herewithin Policies in the Netherlands represent the national flowers of each country. Women and girls have the right to sexual 26 Victory in Rhode Island 27 CATW’s Campaign Against HBO’s integrity and autonomy. Cathouse 2 CATW BIENNIAL REPORT 2008/2009 CATW BIENNIAL REPORT 2008/2009 3 From the Executive Director Norma Ramos, Esq. CATW’s groundbreaking principled advocacy or decriminalize the prostitution industry in polices that discourage the demand for com- CATW achieved a major victory in September continued to strengthen over 2008 and 2009. several countries, including Belgium, the mercial sex, remains a key component of our 2008 by co-leading a campaign in New York These were highly productive years for CATW. Netherlands, the UK, and in the Middle East. anti-trafficking approach. In commemoration State to secure passage of the Safe Harbor Our ongoing work to end human trafficking We promoted comprehensive legal and policy of the UN International Day for the Abolition for Exploited Youth Act. Governor Paterson by challenging the global sex trade on local, reform that included measures to curb the of Slavery, CATW held the first event of its signed the act, creating a critical tool for pro- national and international levels is expanding demand within the United Nations in Vienna kind, A Conversation Among Men About Sex tecting prostituted girls. The act decriminalizes its reach. and Geneva (including at the UNODC). During Trafficking, to bring together male leaders to sexually exploited children and requires local the spring of 2008, CATW Europe initiated address the demand for commercial sex that districts to provide crisis intervention services This biennial report highlights some of our the establishment of a MEP abolitionist group leads to sex trafficking. and community—based programming for ex- achievements in 2008 and 2009. Our global within the European Parliament (EP). ploited youth. This law became the first law in partners continue their bold advocacy to end At the UN, we continue to provide parallel North America to recognize sexually exploited human trafficking. In Bimbilla, Ghana, with CATW participated in the 61st Annual DPI/ events at CSW that feature some of the most youth as sex trafficking victims. CATW support, the Enslavement Prevention NGO Conference at UNESCO in Paris, France. compelling speakers on the issue of human Alliance—West Africa (EPA—WA) rescued 15 Entitled “Reaffirming Human Rights for All: trafficking. In 2009, we presented panels, I look forward to expanding our work and part- sexually exploited children, as young as four The Universal Declaration,” the event cel- featuring author and activist Victor Malarek, on nering with new individuals and organizations years old, from a brothel. ebrated the 60th anniversary of the Universal the responsibility of men to end the demand willing to come together and speak with one Declaration of Human Rights. I was privileged for sex trafficking. We also featured a panel voice to end human trafficking in our lifetime. In Mexico City, CATW Latin America and the to present on the abolitionist approach to end- on the role pornography plays in socializing a Together, we will sharpen our fight against the Caribbean and partner Teresa Ulloa Ziaurriz ing human trafficking to the Violence Against highly destructive sexuality. Filmmaker Chyng demand for and legalization/normalization of organized and hosted a historic meeting. Women panel. Sun’s film The Price of Pleasure was pre- commercial sexual exploitation and advance This meeting was the first of its kind to bring sented. The film was followed by a reception our mission as the world’s leading abolitionist together abolitionists working to end commer- To strengthen our network of abolitionist for the newly named Special Rapporteur on organization. cial sexual exploitation in 19 Latin American organizations and advocates in North America, Trafficking in Persons, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo. and Caribbean countries, as well as in Spain CATW launched the Abolitionist Network (AN) and the United States. Both myself and board in July 2008. The AN is a network of organiza- We continue our legal and policy reform in the member Dorchen Leidholdt participated in this tions and noteworthy individuals throughout United States. This includes measures to end meeting, which was designed to share best North America that provide a collective aboli- the demand for commercial sexual exploita- practices for ending sex trafficking throughout tionist voice for the struggle against trafficking tion. CATW co-founder Dorchen Leidholdt and Latin America. in human beings. I look forward to its contin- myself met with key senators in Washington, ued growth and success in upcoming years. D.C., to urge the reauthorization of a more CATW Europe successfully counteracted effective Trafficking Victims Protection Act proposals by parliamentarians, nongovern- Ending demand, carried out through aware- (TVPRA), a model used around the world. mental organizations and individuals to legalize ness raising and the vigorous promotion of 4 CATW BIENNIAL REPORT 2008/2009 CATW BIENNIAL REPORT 2008/2009 5 CATW AT THE UN CATW at the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 2008 Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 2009 CATW participated at the 52nd Session of the CATW was an active NGO participant at the CATW co-hosted two parallel events and a Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), 53rd Session of the Commission on the Status reception. The first event was titled “Men’s held at the United Nations in New York from of Women (CSW) held at the United Nations Responsibility: Ending Demand for Sex February 25 to March 7, 2008. The CSW con- in New York from March 2 to March 13, 2009. Trafficking,” featuring author and activist Victor sidered “financing for gender equality and the The priority theme of the session was “the Malarek and Ted Bunch of A Call To Men. The empowerment of women” its annual priority equal sharing of responsibilities between panelists presented strong arguments for the theme. women and men, including caregiving in the need to focus on demand in order to eliminate context of HIV/AIDS.” The review theme was sex trafficking for a standing-room-only audi- As part of its contribution to exploring the “equal participation of women and men in ence in the UN Church Center. The event was CSW’s theme and advocating for strong laws decision-making processes at all levels.” co-sponsored by UNANIMA International. and policies against commercial sexual exploi- tation, CATW organized two events. The first CATW submitted a written intervention that The second event featured a portion of event, held on February 27, was a panel on became part of the official UN record of the Professor Chyng Sun’s gripping documen- “The Economics of the Sex Industry: Financing session and co-signed written interventions tary film The Price of Pleasure and explored Gender Inequality.” The presenters included by partner NGOs. CATW’s written intervention the way pornography shapes men’s and Melissa Farley of Prostitution Research and was co-submitted by UNANIMA International women’s sexuality and the negative effects Education; Taina Bien-Aimé of Equality Now; and had 28 NGO co-signers. The interven- of pornography on women’s equality. The Gail Dines: Professor at Wheelock College; tion stated that sexual violence is one of the connection between pornography, prostitution and author and activist Victor Malarek. leading factors in the spread