Sex Trafficking Research Reports
Find anti-sex trafficking research reports, commercial sex work exploitation case studies, and analyses offered by The Avery Center. Our trauma-informed and survivor-led approach leads the way for effective and fair sex trafficking research reports while avoiding re-exploitation. We focus on empowering survivor voices through research and analysis to reduce demand and convict traffickers.
Legal Deserts Report – CLOSING GAPS FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS’ ACCESS TO JUSTICE
Human trafficking survivors across the United States find themselves in legal deserts without access to trauma-informed legal services . Current efforts to address these legal deserts, while laudable, are but a mirage. These deserts must be watered with resources, funding, ...
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National Economic Justice Report: Beyond Workforce Development for Survivors of Trafficking
Job training and workforce readiness programs are common across the US for equipping individuals in marginalized communities with the skills and social supports to enter the traditional workforce. While models and populations served vary widely, the common goal is to ...
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If Houston Has a Problem, McLennan County Has a Solution
Since sex trafficking is an illegal enterprise, accounting for the cost of risk should any involved party be arrested, convicted, and fined is key. Further, it can help policymakers, law enforcement, prosecutors, and others approach this industry more efficiently - ...
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Made for Them (MFT) Report: An Avery Seal Evaluation
The Avery Center for Research and Services' Avery Seal Team conducted a formal program evaluation on Made for Them's ten- year anniversary during March of 2022 to August of 2022. The formal purpose of this evaluation was to conduct an ...
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The Role of Addictive Substances in Different Types of Sex Trafficking in Urban Areas in the U.S.: A Study of Control
Sex traffickers manipulate their victims through force, fraud, and coercion into performing sexual acts in exchange for something of value. Often, traffickers use addictive substances to recruit and manipulate their victims into compliance. Less is known about how different types ...
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Sex Trafficking Prevalence, Cost of Risk, and Outreach in Delaware: A Community-Based Sample
Reliable data on the scope of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) is difficult to access; most reports rely on law-enforcement or health care interactions with sex trafficking victims, victims who reach out for services post-exploitation, or other non-governmental organization estimates. What's ...
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OnlyFans Report: A Case Study of Exploitation in the Digital Age
Though the OnlyFans online social platform became wildly popular in early 2020, it has been around since 2016. This rapid rise to fame corresponded with the 2020 COVID-19 widespread shelter orders and layoffs that disproportionately impacted young people employed in ...
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Legal Deserts Report – ACCESSING LEGAL SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS OF SEX TRAFFICKING
Human trafficking victims who are exploited in the commercial sex industry are highly likely to be arrested for offenses catalyzed by their victimization. The resulting criminal records shadow survivors out of trafficking and serve as barriers to achieving sustainable independence. ...
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Trauma-Informed Considerations for Anti-Trafficking Efforts in the COVID-19 Environment, its Aftermath, and in the Context of Possible Future Pandemics
We're pleased to share these reports from a collaborative project between co-founder Megan Lundstrom and Jennifer Roman-Martin, LICSW, both consultants for the Human Trafficking Expert Consultant Network. This report was funded by and created for the U.S. State Department's Office ...
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THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CONTEXT – How Survivor-Led Collaborations Can Inform Anti-Money Laundering Efforts
Financial institutions are in a unique position to detect, disrupt, and prevent the illegal profits generated by human trafficking. But just because it may be possible to detect potential trafficking through financial records does not mean it is easy. Trafficking ...
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Taking a Look Behind The Other Board
Learning about The Other Board When first starting this project, I had only a little bit of knowledge of sex trafficking and all it entailed. I gained an internship opportunity with The Avery Center inputting data from TheOtherBoard.com (TOB). I ...
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Disrupting the Dichotomous Narrative: This Isn’t About “Good Guys” Versus “Bad Guys”
The Dichotomy Is Flawed I have been involved in the anti-trafficking movement for several years, walking alongside survivors and those I lovingly refer to as "powerfrau" women leaders, along with some outstanding male allies as well. Over the course of ...
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Food & Safety Insecurity for SNAP Recipients
by Melanie Thompson Youth Outreach Coordinator at the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has our country in turmoil. Many Americans have lost their jobs, schools have temporarily shut down, businesses are financially ...
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Impacts of COVID-19 on Survivors and Allied Professionals
Megan Lundstrom, M.A. DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH Research Results: Impacts of COVID-19 from a Community Feedback Survey While the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at the local, national and global levels will not be fully understand for several years, most of ...
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Exiting Prostitution: Moving Through Stages of Change During a Pandemic
Angie Henderson, Ph.D. Megan Lundstrom, M.A. Introduction & Background The COVID-19 Pandemic has undoubtedly impacted the ability for individuals to exit the commercial sex trade. Prostituted persons’ ability to meet their quota has been severely restricted by widespread lockdowns. To ...
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A Sample of Applied Research in Anti Sex Trafficking Work Across Sectors
With over a decade of combined lived experience, direct service provision, and academic research, The Avery Center co-founder Megan Lundstrom offers case studies, pilot project analyses, mathematical models, and framework created between 2015-2018 aimed at equipping professionals (such as first ...
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