What is WATA-USA?

In 2006, Shared Hope International began adapting this approach to the United States by spearheading the Mid-Term Review on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in America, bringing together leaders from across the U.S. to document progress made in combating sexual slavery of children in America. In 2007 and 2008, with funding from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), SHI conducted field assessments in 10 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.

In 2009, SHI leveraged this experience to organize the War Against Trafficking Alliance-United States. Through alliances and the combined resources and efforts of organizations joined together to eradicate the sex trafficking of women and children, WATA-USA focuses on responding to two urgent needs within the United States:

• establish and expand safe restorative shelters for victims of sex trafficking; and  

• reduce the demand which drives sex trafficking.

Organizations who have been involved in WATA efforts