Drafters should review laws and regulations related to prostitution and the sex industry [link to section on Prostitution and Sex Trafficking in this section of the Knowledge Asset], sex tourism, and the marriage broker industry at a minimum. The existence of industries that revolve around the sale and purchase of human beings either for purposes of prostitution, pornography, stripping, and other forms of sexual exploitation assist sex traffickers in finding “markets” for the sale of women and girls they exploit. As such, laws and regulations related to these industries must be harmonized with sex trafficking laws. All forms of violence against women and girls, from domestic violence to forced marriage, may serve as “push” factors, which make them vulnerable to sexual exploitation and sex trafficking.
The Center for Women and Public Policy published Model Provisions for State Anti-Trafficking Laws, which contains proposed language for both sex tourism industry regulation and marriage broker industry regulation. (See: Model Provisions for State Anti-Trafficking Laws, Center for Women Policy Studies, 13-17, 2005)
Drafters should review all related laws, regulation and programmes for their inclusion and sensitivity to sex trafficking victims. Particular attention should be paid to provision of services for victims and health related policies, including HIV/AIDS programmes and interventions.
Tool:
OSI's Public Health Program, What Works for Women and Girls: Evidence for HIV/AIDS Interventions (2010). This website is a resource for practitioners working on health, HIV and AIDS and related issues. The site is based on a review of literature and data from over 90 countries and provides brief descriptions of evidence-based programming strategies as well as gaps in interventions, and covers key issues including reduction of violence and discrimination against women. Available in English.