Individuals who purchase human beings for sex fuel the market that traffickers and pimps supply with victims. Until we eliminate demand, the sexual enslavement of our society’s most vulnerable children, women, and even men will continue unabated.

In the past decade, most public and private resources have been crisis oriented, geared toward rescuing and rehabilitating victims. Only the most egregious of traffickers and pimps are in danger of prosecution for their crimes. While supporting victims and survivors and punishing pimps remains a critical need, a growing number of policymakers, academics, and activists are beginning to recognize that the endless supply of victims won’t cease unless we combat the driver of domestic and international sex trafficking: demand for commercial sex.

We can end demand together and break the cycle of violence and exploitation.

Simply put, if no one were buying sex, it wouldn’t be profitable for traffickers and pimps to supply an endless stream of victims.