Legislation Addressing Demand

Human trafficking is fueled by demand. Demand refers to those buying sex. The only reason traffickers do what they do is because it is highly profitable. It is a profit-driven, $150 billion dollar a year industry. And it relies on the buyers. If there were no buyers, traffickers would be unable to make money, and sex trafficking would end. It is a simple matter of supply and demand. Traffickers see the high demand, and recognize the potential to make a lot of money. But they have a problem. Those who sell themselves willingly are few, and these few can never meet the demand, which is exceedingly high. The trafficker then recognizes that in order to meet the demand, he/she must use those who are unwilling to sell themselves. They do this through force, fraud, and/or coercion. Human trafficking victims are then funneled into the prostitution industry. So what LOOKS LIKE a willing adult who's making a lot of money and stays where he/she is by choice, is actually a victim of human trafficking, who is being exploited and forced to do things he/she does NOT want to do. He/she hands most or all of the money over to the trafficker and is held in place by psychological trauma bonds and violence. As long as the trafficker is able to convince the community that no one is being hurt and that prostitution is victimless, he/she gets to operate with impunity. Prostitution serves as a smokescreen to hide what is really happening. Until we are willing, as a society, to address this issue of demand, we will not stop human trafficking.

NJ Assembly Woman Murphy and NJ Senator Madden have introduced legislation to their prospective legislatures to make buying sex a fourth-degree indictable crime. The Assembly version of the bill, A3863, raises the fine for buying sex, as well as providing increased jail time, and directs those funds to increased police action against buyers of sex, and victim services. The bill removes charges against those being sold. This legislation will “untie” the hands of law enforcement, allowing them to arrest buyers, assured that prosecution and just penalties will ensue. We applaud the work of our legislators in creating this legislation, and all of those bi-partisan legislators who support it! We expect to see a dramatic decrease in human trafficking as this legislation is enforced.

Is there really a problem with 2 consenting adults deciding to engage in prostitution?

The US Department of State reports:

89% of those in prostitution want to get out
Few activities are as brutal and damaging to people as prostitution.
60-75% of women in prostitution raped
70-95% are physically assaulted
68% met the criteria for PTSD in the same range as combat veteran and victims of state-organized torture.

Beyond this shocking abuse, the public health implications of prostitution are devastating.

Is it really 2 consenting adults?