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UN Photo/Amanda Voisard

Creating a world where no woman or girl is ever bought or sold.

The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) is one of the oldest international organizations working to end the trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and girls. Through an approach rooted in women’s rights and human rights principles, we advocate for strong laws and policies, raise public awareness and support survivor leadership.

About the Challenge About Our Work

Financials and Annual Report

Legacy of Impact

For three decades, CATW has worked around the world to fight sex trafficking and sexual exploitation, ensure justice is served, and safeguard the rights of all women and girls.

1988

CATW is founded

The First USA Conference on International Trafficking in Women gathers global grassroots advocates to launch the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – International.

1991

Gathering experts on sexual exploitation

CATW convenes an international meeting of experts on sexual exploitation, violence and prostitution. With UNESCO, CATW publishes the proceedings in “The Penn State Report.”

1993

Spreading across the world

The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia-Pacific and the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Europe are established.

1994

Reaching Latin America

The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Latin America and the Caribbean launches and develops workshops to educate youth at risk of sexual exploitation in Caracas schools.

1995

Leading on violence against women in Beijing

CATW participates in the seminal Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing and chairs the Violence Against Women Caucus.

1996

Supporting survivor leadership at the UNGA

CATW joins forces with a sex trade survivor to address a special session of the UN General Assembly.

1997

Fostering partnerships, growing a network

CATW organizes first international conference of sex trade survivors, frontline service organizations and women’s rights advocates. The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Africa is established.

1999

Groundbreaking law launches the Swedish Model

CATW supported Swedish partners advocating for the successfully enacted Ban on the Purchase of Sex, the first law solely decriminalizing prostituted women while holding sex buyers accountable.

2000

Historic Protocol defines human trafficking, recognizes it as crime

The International Human Rights Network, organized by CATW to advocate for a comprehensive legal definition of human trafficking, succeeds when the UNGA adopts the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol.

2001

Raising awareness through research

CATW publishes “Sex Trafficking of Women in the United States: International and Domestic Trends,” the first systematic report based on interviews with 40 women trafficked and prostituted in the U.S.

2002

Advocating for regional change

The SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution passes. CATW members and affiliates fought hard to shape provisions of this convention.

2003

Raising awareness and preventing sex trafficking in the Global South

CATW-AP hosts the first summer camp to educate boys and young men on prostitution and sex trafficking. CATW-LAC begins a prevention program in Mexico City, which becomes a model for the region.

2004

South Korea changes its sex trafficking laws

CATW works with South Korean advocates to pass two laws: one to protect and assist victims, expanding social services; another to increase penalties against brothel owners, pimps, and sex buyers.

2005

Anti-trafficking law in action in the Philippines

First conviction under 2003 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, which CATW-AP helped draft. In the lead up, CATW-AP conducted outreach to local government agencies through Bantay-Bugaw(Trafficker-Watch).

2006

Listening to and highlighting survivor voices

Sex trade survivors issue a public statement denouncing the term “sex work” as trivializing the trauma they suffered in prostitution at groundbreaking CATW-AP gathering in Thailand.

2005

Ending demand to prevent trafficking and sexual exploitation

CATW and the European Women’s Lobby begin trafficking and sexual exploitation prevention project to support NGOs working in 13 European countries known as trafficking hot spots.

2006

Raising awareness about the impact of demand

CATW Europe’s “Buying Sex is Not a Sport” protests sex tourism and Germany’s promotion of prostitution during the World Cup. In India, CATW and Apne Aap publish handbook on demand and sex trafficking.

2007

Public education leads to change at all levels

NYS Human Trafficking Act passes following joint campaign. Bulgaria rejects legalizing sex trade after CATW meets Prime Minister. CATW-AP trainings lead Olongapo City council to combat prostitution.

2007

Different tools to combat trafficking in the Global South

CATW, IROKO, NAPTIP organize first international conference on trafficking, prostitution in Nigeria. CATW-LAC creates Red Alert System to locate and provide services to victims; prosecute exploiters.

2008

Iceland adopts the Swedish Model

CATW partner Stigamot is instrumental in advocating for the successful passage of law penalizing sex buying and decriminalizing people in prostitution in Iceland.

2009

The Swedish Model officially becomes the Nordic Model

CATW partner Kvinnefronten along with other organizations in Norway successfully advocate for the passage of The Ban on the Purchase of Sexual Services.

2010

Fighting for a sex trafficking-free internet

Craigslist shuts down “Adult Services” section, a known platform for facilitating sex trafficking, after pressure from CATW’s “Global Campaign for a Sex Trafficking Free Internet” launched that year.

2011

Supporting survivor leadership

Following the success of its first educational camps for sex trafficking survivors in 2010, CATW-AP organizes first Regional Meeting of Survivors in New Delhi, where survivors shared best practices.

2012

Mexico changes its laws on human trafficking

Mexico passes the General Law on the Prevention and Eradication of Crimes of Trafficking in Persons and the Protection and Assistance of Victims of Such Crimes. CATW-LAC's advocacy is crucial.

2014

Shedding a light on sex tourism in Latin America

CATW-LAC leads the “Di No Al Turismo Sexual” (Say No to Sex Tourism) campaign in Brazil during the 2014 World Cup.

2015

Successfully advocating for legislative progress

Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, the first comprehensive federal bill to address domestic trafficking in the U.S., and NYS’s Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act are signed into law.

2016

The Nordic Model continues to spread

CATW partners celebrate the enactment of The French Act Against Prostitution, the strongest law of its kind in the world. CATW Europe initiated proceedings in the early 2000s that led to its passage.

2017

Becoming the Equality Model

Organizations in the Republic of Ireland successfully advocate for the passage of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2015. CATW supported survivor leaders and frontline partners in their advocacy.

2018

A victory for the Global Campaign for a Sex Trafficking Free Internet

The Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act is signed into law following years-long advocacy with partners to hold websites knowingly facilitating sex trafficking accountable.

2019

Celebrating 30 years by energizing initiative to end violence against women

Global conference in Madrid commemorates CATW’s 30th anniversary and creates strategies for the 5.2 Global Partnership. It is the largest recorded international feminist conference in Spain’s history.

2019

Launch of New Yorkers for the Equality Model

A survivor-led alliance of more than 30 advocates, prostitution and sex trafficking survivors, and organizational partners begins work to bring the Equality Model to NYS. CATW is a member.

2020

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic

At the Edge of the Margins virtual round table series begins to shed light on the impact of the crisis and other emerging issues; we support frontline partners in the Philippines and South Africa.

2021

The Sex Trade Survivors Justice and Equality Act

The Sex Trade Survivors Justice and Equality Act, a bill developed in partnership with survivors of the sex trade and advocates, is introduced to the New York State Legislature.

2023

Maine passes Equality Model legislation

In June 2023, Maine became the first U.S. state to adopt a legal framework known as the Equality Model, recognizing the system of prostitution as a barrier to equality.

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Board of Directors

Esohe Aghatise

President, Nigeria/Italy

Dorchen Leidholdt

Secretary, USA

Deshi Singh

Treasurer, USA/India

Aurora Javate-de Dios

The Philippines

Alexi Ashe Meyers

USA

Susana Chiarotti Boero

Argentina

Jean Enriquez

The Philippines

Ruchira Gupta

India

Azadeh Khalili

USA

Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge

South Africa

Asunción Miura

Spain

Sonia Sanchez

Argentina

Ariane Silva

Brazil

Agnete Strøm

Norway

Teresa Ulloa Ziáurriz

Mexico

Advisory Council

Dr. Holly Atkinson

Member

Cecilia Blewer

Member

Aiyoung Choi

Member

Elizabeth Defeis

Member

Winfred Doherty

Member

Catherine Douglass

Member

Rachel Foster

Member

Jill Goodman

Member

Barbara Kryszko

Member

Yun Lee

Member

Cathy Lee

Member

Amanda Norejko

Member

Marilyn O’Connell

Member

Bonita Pinkham

Member

Bonnie Porta

Member

Dr. Anita Ravi

Member

Donna Rich

Member

Lynn Savarese

Member

Gloria Steinem

Member

Diana Taylor

Member

Ruth Teitelbaum

Member

Our Staff

Taina Bien-Aimé

Executive Director

Janet Gumbs

Finance Director

Laura Ramirez

Program Coordinator

Melanie Thompson

Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator

Nora Hennick

Communications Director

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