Of those, approximately 1 million are children, and 99% are women and girls. Globally, many organizations work to rescue victims in their communities. Despite valiant efforts, these types of interventions are under-resourced and unable to reach sufficient scale to sustainably reduce commercial sexual exploitation (CSE). As a result, traffickers continue to operate with impunity.
In many contexts, the surrounding environment enables continued perpetration of CSE, which is as important as reducing the supply of vulnerable individuals and demand for sexual services.
To make sustainable impact on the fight against CSE, we need solutions that target the systems perpetuating modern slavery. Importantly, these solutions need to go beyond rescue and prosecution, doing more to prioritize and address survivor needs. GFEMS:
GFEMS incorporates rigorous monitoring and evaluation activities into all of our CSE projects to help us and our partners gain a true understanding of what really works to reduce CSE.
Beyond project-based research, GFEMS is making field building investments in evidence. The nature of CSE creates a challenge for calculating accurate estimates of the scope and scale of CSE. Adapting social science research methods from other disciplines, we are working on new ways to achieve more accurate prevalence measurements in CSE hotspots around the world.
Commercial Sexual Exploitation |
Vietnam
Project: Safe and Sound: Ha Giang
Despite the heightened risk of trafficking in Vietnam’s Ha Giang province, no trafficking survivors reported receiving reintegration support prior to Blue Dragon’s intervention. By strengthening channels of coordination and information-sharing between government officials and various stakeholder groups, Blue Dragon supported the provincial government agencies to implement a provincial-level referral system to identify trafficking victims and refer them for services. For the first time, Ha Giang authorities referred or directly provided reintegration support.
To ensure this support is survivor-centric and trauma-informed, Blue Dragon also led a training program to better prepare social workers engaging directly with survivors. One program graduate explained the significance of the training: “We used to attend training on the local policies and regulations relating to trafficking in persons, but this is the first time ever we have been trained on how to work with survivors to support them effectively.”
Partner: Blue Dragon Children’s Fund
Working with local partners, leaders with lived experience, and others invested in human dignity, GFEMS is building the momentum needed for sustainable change.