On June 24, 2016, the CSE Institute hosted the conference, “Commercial Sexual Exploitation: Shifting Perspectives and Policing Practices” at the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. The sold-out conference included over 110 attendees including, law enforcement, lawyers, advocates, and survivors of the commercial sex trade. The conference was co-sponsored and funded by a $25,000 grant from the Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice at the University of Minnesota Law School.
The first panel, “Innovative Investigations and Shifting Police Practices” provided audience members an opportunity to learn about the shifting police perspectives regarding commercial sexual exploitation. The panel was moderated by Detective Les Glauner of the Upper Merion Police Department and discussed strategies for policing the demand—or purchasers of commercial sex. The panel emphasized the importance of collaborating with organizations in order to educate law enforcement, and shift policing practices to focus on arresting purchasers of sex – who fund the sex trade. Panelists included, Lieutenant Donna Gavin of the Boston Police Department, Marian Hatcher, Senior Project Manager and Human Trafficking Coordinator for the Office of Public Policy of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Margie Quin of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
The second panel, “Prosecuting Sex Trafficking: Diverting Victims, Deterring Demand and Targeting Traffickers,” was moderated by Shea Rhodes, Esq., Director of the CSE Institute. This panel discussed the significance of victim-centered prosecutions and the importance of refraining from resting the success of a prosecutor’s case solely on a victim’s shoulders. Panelists included Dalia Racine, Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney of the Dekalb County District Attorney’s Office, Amanda Rodriguez, Chief Program Officer at TurnAround, Inc., and Robert Schopf, Deputy District Attorney of the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office.
The third panel, “Difficulties with Data: The Promise and Perils of Empirical Research on Commercial Sexual Exploitation,” discussed the accusation that many statistics surrounding the human trafficking world are inaccurate, making people skeptical to trust any statistics related to trafficking and therefore fueling a “moral panic”. Some of the reasons for the inaccuracies behind statistics include: (1) victims do not always self-identify, (2) victims can look very “different”—i.e. interfamilial prostitution, male victims, LGBTQ community, and (3) victims typically do not admit their victimization due to stigma associated with selling sex. This panel was moderated by CSE Institute Faculty Advisor and Associate Dean for Faculty Research, Michelle Dempsey. Panelists included Dr. Joel Filmore, Clinical Assistant Professor of the Family Institute at Northwestern University, Eliza Reock, Director of Programs of Shared Hope International, and Christine Stark, a Community Faculty Member of Metropolitan State University,
The fourth panel provided the audience with “International Perspectives on Commercial Sexual Exploitation.” Villanova Law Professor, Ruth Gordon moderated this panel. Panelists discussed how other countries, including Jamaica, India, and the Netherlands are responding to commercial sexual exploitation. This panel allowed audience members to gain an international understanding of commercial sexual exploitation and what others countries are doing to combat the problem. Panelists included, Rev. Dr. Margaret Fowler, Executive Director of Theodora Foundation, Nicole Siller, Research Fellow and PhD Candidate at the University of Groningen, and a virtual appearance by Ruchira Gupta, Founder of Apne Aap Women Worldwide.
The final panel, “Creating Real Opportunities for Survivors and Cultivating Survivor Leadership,” featured survivors of commercial sexual exploitation who are now survivor leaders in combatting sex trafficking. This panel urged the audience to recognize survivors as the resilient human beings they are, with many skills to offer, besides speaking about their past. Once using this lens the panel encouraged the audience to create attainable and sustainable opportunities for those who have exited the life of prostitution. This can be accomplished through educational opportunities for survivors, including: job training, career coaching, and scholarships. The panel also encouraged the audience to recognize the unique role survivors play in combatting trafficking, specifically in giving hope to those currently in the life of prostitution. The panel urged the audience to create leadership roles for survivors within anti-trafficking organizations, and to listen to survivors’ needs. This panel was moderated by Lesha Sanders the Court Coordinator of Pennsylvania’ First Judicial District’s Project Dawn Court. Panelists included: Alisa Bernard, a board member of Organization for Prostitution Survivors, Autumn Burris, Founder and Director of Survivors for Solutions, Vednita Carter, President and Founder of Breaking Free, and Shamere McKenzie, Anti-trafficking Program Director of the Salvation Army of Central Maryland and CEO of Sun Gate Foundation.
The conversations throughout the conference were honest, open, enlightening, and empowering and most importantly centered around survivors of prostitution and commercial sexual exploitation. Every panel presentation included the voices of survivors and many survivors also attended the conference to support one another, network, and learn. The conference panels and discussions promoted the dignity of victims and survivors as well as examined how policing perspectives are shifting in order to combat commercial sexual exploitation. CSE Institute Director, Shea Rhodes and CSE Institute Faculty Advisor, Michelle Dempsey, along with the student externs, would like to express our gratitude to all the individuals who helped to make this conference successful.
See the conference highlighted in Mainline Media News!
Panel 1: “Innovative Investigations and Shifting Police Practices.” Left to right: Lt. Donna Gavin, Marian Hatcher, ASAC Margie Quin
Panel 2: “Prosecuting Sex Trafficking: Diverting Victims, Deterring Demand and Targeting Traffickers.” Left to right: Moderator Shea Rhodes, Robert Schopf, Amanda Rodriguez, and Dalia Racine
Panel 3: “Difficulties with Data: The Promise and Perils of Empirical Research on Commercial Sexual Exploitation.” Left to right: Moderator Michelle Dempsey, Christine Stark, Eliza Reock, Dr. Joel Filmore
Panel 4: “International Perspectives on Commercial Sexual Exploitation.” Left to right: Rev. Dr. Margaret Fowler, Nicole Siller, Moderator, Professor Ruth Gordon
Panel 5: “Creating Real Opportunities for Survivors and Cultivating Survivor Leadership.” Left to right: Moderator, Lesha Sanders, Vednita Carter, Shamere McKenzie, Alisa Bernard, and Autumn Burris
The conference hosted over 100 attendees, including law enforcement, lawyers, advocates, and survivors of the commercial sex trade. It was a sold-out event!