Understanding Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is a serious violation of human rights involving exploitation through force, fraud, or coercion—whether for labor, sex, or other forms of servitude. It is driven by systemic inequalities such as poverty, racism, and gender oppression, which create vulnerabilities that traffickers exploit. However, it is critical to distinguish trafficking from consensual sex work. Conflating the two harms sex workers, undermines their agency, and fuels policies that increase their risk of violence and criminalization.
Who Is Affected?
Anyone can be affected by trafficking, regardless of age, gender, race, or background. Trafficking disproportionately impacts people living at the intersections of multiple oppressions—Black, Indigenous, immigrant, queer, trans, disabled, and low-income communities. Survivors often remain invisible due to fear of criminalization, stigma, or mistrust of law enforcement, especially when the system itself perpetuates harm.
Florida’s Unique Challenges
Florida’s economy and geography make it a hotspot for trafficking, particularly for sex and labor exploitation. The state’s reliance on tourism, agriculture, and its position as an entry point from Latin America and the Caribbean increase risks for vulnerable populations. However, enforcement-heavy responses have often failed to protect survivors and instead criminalized sex workers and marginalized communities.
Our Stance: Decriminalization and Rights-Based Approaches
Florida NOW stands firmly for the decriminalization of sex workers and the protection of sex workers’ rights. Criminalization pushes workers underground, making them more vulnerable to violence and exploitation while preventing access to health care, legal protections, and community support. We oppose laws that conflate consensual sex work with trafficking and call for policies that distinguish trafficking from voluntary work.
We advocate for survivor-led, community-based solutions that prioritize healing, safety, and self-determination over punitive responses. True abolition of trafficking requires addressing root causes: economic inequality, housing insecurity, systemic racism, and lack of social services.
What Can You Do?
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Educate yourself and others on the realities of trafficking and the rights of sex workers.
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Support organizations led by survivors and sex worker communities that offer direct aid and advocate for policy change.
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Challenge harmful narratives that criminalize or stigmatize marginalized people under the guise of combating trafficking.
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Advocate for policies that center human rights, health, and economic justice.
Resources
If you encounter a potential trafficking situation, reach out to trusted organizations that prioritize survivors’ dignity and safety:
Sex Worker and Trafficking Survivor Support and Advocacy in Florida
Florida is home to a diverse network of organizations dedicated to supporting the rights, safety, and dignity of sex workers and trafficking survivors. These groups work tirelessly to promote decriminalization, provide trauma-informed services, and advocate for policies centered on human rights, healing, and community empowerment.
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SWOP Behind Bars — Advocacy and support for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated sex workers.
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LIPS Florida — Crisis support and community organizing for transgender sex workers.
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The Center Orlando — Outreach and advocacy including support for sex workers.
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SWOP USA — National network with Florida chapters dedicated to ending violence and stigma against sex workers.
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Decrim305 — Miami-based grassroots organization advocating for the decriminalization of sex work through education, community organizing, and events like the annual Slut Walk Miami.
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The Cupcake Girls — Provides confidential support, trauma-informed outreach, and holistic resources to those involved in the sex industry, with a focus on empowerment and dignity.
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The McKenzie Project — A Black trans-led organization in South Florida dedicated to uplifting Black transgender and nonbinary individuals, particularly those experiencing homelessness and engaging in survival sex work. They offer creative arts-based advocacy, entrepreneurship studies, and a range of services to address economic disparities and promote self-sufficiency.