Villanova University School of Law

View the 2023 Annual Symposium!

On Friday, October 13, 2023, the CSE Institute hosted our annual symposium, “Combatting Commercial Sexual Exploitation Through Equality Model Policies and Laws.” The day-long event included cutting-edge panel presentations from survivors driving policy reforms alongside attorneys and law reformers, including panelists from Maine and Sweden, to guide our next steps in Pennsylvania and beyond. Currently, the first panel regarding Sweden’s creation of the Equality Model is available to be viewed. Please check back here for the additional panels as they become available!

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New Resource Available

The CSE Institute has created A Legal Guide for Vacatur Motions in Pennsylvania. This Guide provides an explanation for important concepts of Pennsylvania’s vacatur law and the steps to prepare a vacatur motion. The Guide also includes best practices for employing a trauma-informed and survivor-centered approach to client interviewing and representation along with other practice tips to consider at each step in the vacatur process.

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Trauma-Informed Lawyering


Our Mission

We educate and provide technical assistance to those who respond to commercial sexual exploitation in Pennsylvania, the United States and beyond, promoting victim-centered, trauma-informed multidisciplinary collaboration.

We equip policy-makers and the broader community with the skills and knowledge they need to improve the legal system’s response to commercial sexual exploitation, in order to support survivors and hold perpetrators accountable.

We center the experiences of survivors to inform the development of policies and best practices to combat commercial sexual exploitation and are committed to engaging the survivor community in shaping our positions.

We aim to create a community in which every human being is treated with dignity, compassion, and respect inspired by Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law’s Catholic and Augustinian mission.