In May 2010, Demand Abolition teamed up with the Embrey Family Foundation to convene a diverse group of 75 abolitionists to Cambridge, MA. Called an “historic” meeting by participants, the National Planning Meeting to Eliminate Demand for Commercial Sex explored various demand-reduction tactics and generated key recommendations for an overarching national strategy.

“Traffickers will only retreat when we hold ourselves to the highest standards at home, in the workplace, and with our friends. We are all on the front lines in the fight against modern slavery.”
-US Ambassador-at-Large Luis CdeBaca for the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

Demand Abolition commissioned a landscape analysis by Abt Associates, Inc. of current demand-reduction programs, practices, and policies across the US. Through the leadership of Dr. Michael Shively, over 150 experts in the field — including participants from the May Planning meeting — provided input to the report. In addition to the landscape analysis, the report included recommendations for mobilized action and identified gaps and untapped resources in the movement to end modern-day slavery.

A steering committee, made up of 10 experts across sectors and disciplines, further analyzed the Abt report to determine possible frameworks within which to tackle demand: public awareness, prevention education, cross-sector professional development, and criminal justice sector intervention.

Read the Abt Reports
Executive Summary: Developing a National Action Plan for Eliminating Sex Trafficking
PDF – 183k

Full Report: Developing a National Action Plan for Eliminating Sex Trafficking
PDF – 3.2m