Global Policy

Shared Hope International is actively engaged in building coalitions around the world to accomplish the mission of prevention, rescue and restoration, and bringing justice to the victims. These coalitions range from formal, long-term engagements to loose groups of activists coming together over a single issue. Shared Hope also sits on seven human trafficking task forces and several working groups striving to advance the protection of children from the evils of sex trafficking.

The War Against Trafficking Alliance (WATA) was formed in 2001 by Shared Hope to coordinate efforts in targeted regions around the world. WATA’s approach is to create local and national alliances by bringing together groups in specific geographic areas, held together by a common commitment to seek strategies for intervention and restoration for victims of sex trafficking. In 2003, WATA held a World Summit, where representatives from over 114 nations gathered in Washington, DC to focus on comprehensive efforts to eradicate sex trafficking. The World Summit was followed by six “Next Steps” conferences held in the Dominican Republic, India, Indonesia, Moldova, Singapore and South Africa. These conferences set the stage for in-country and international child advocacy and sex trafficking experts to train government leaders in establishing and enforcing sex trafficking laws, and provided for the development of local strategies to wage war against trafficking.

Organizations who have been involved in WATA efforts home and abroad include:

U.S. Department of Justice U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons USAID UNICEF UNIFEM Singapore OSCE ILO-IOEC International Organization for Migration (IOM) American Embassy Chisinau Government of Batam Government of Moldova National Committee on Combating Human Trafficking The National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa Yayasan Mitra Kesehatan dan Kemanusiaan (YMKK)

The Protection Project of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies ECPAT-USA International Justice Mission Center for Prevention of Trafficking in Women (CPTW) Alliance Against the Trafficking of Women, Teenagers and Children in the Dominican Republic COIN Commission Against Abuse and Sexual Exploitation. Bombay Teen Challenge Ministry of Women Empowerment Republic of Indonesia International Catholic Migration Commission American Center for International Labor Solidarity Women Make A Difference (WMD) Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA)

The success of WATA led Shared Hope International to adapt this approach to the United States by spearheading the Mid-Term Review on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in America. This event brought together leaders from across the U.S. and Canada to document progress made in combating sexual slavery of children in America and Canada in preparation for the World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC), a group of 170 member countries, including the United States, committed to advancing protections from CSEC. As a result of Shared Hope’s leadership, it was one of just a handful of non-governmental organizations invited to join the U.S. government delegation to the Third World Congress in Brazil in 2008.

In 2007 and 2008, with funding from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Shared Hope International conducted field assessments in ten U.S. locations to identify and facilitate services to American child sex trafficking victims. This intensive field research aligned Shared Hope International to DOJ-funded Human Trafficking Task Forces across the nation, working in each community to identify and respond to child victims of sex trafficking. The resulting site assessment reports served as springboards to action in each area and were compiled into a single National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking in America. Shared Hope continues to sit on seven human trafficking task forces and provides assistance to many more on the issue of protocols, training and awareness on the issue of domestic minor sex trafficking.