Reducing Demand
(Through Awareness, Engagement and Commitment)
Witness Arts is committed to reducing the demand for sex trafficking and other forms of sexual exploitation. We believe this requires communication, education, collaboration, intentionality, strategy, evidence-based practices and strong relationships built on mutual trust and respect. Please explore the options listed here and invest fully in at least one of them.
Memorial to Survivors of Sexual Violence
Artist Lori Greene stands in front of her work, the Memorial to Survivors of Sexual Violence on Boom Island Park in Minneapolis. The project was spearheaded alongside community organizer Sarah Super and completed in 2020. It is the first memorial of its kind in the country. Photo Sarah Whiting (from Minnesota Women's Press article)
Take Breaking Free's Pledge
Sex trafficking has no place in our world. When you pledge #NotForSale, you stand with survivors and take action to end exploitation–because no one, not our friends, our family, our neighbors, or anyone, is for sale. Attend, advocate, fundraise, and fight for freedom—because together, we can create lasting change.
Men as Peacemakers
The Mission of Men as Peacemakers is: "To engage individuals and communities in innovative strategies that promote equality, repair harm, and prevent violence against women and children." They offer programs for youth, campus, men and community, and technical assistance.
Cherish All Children
Through Cherish the Children, Lutheran Social Services "partners with churches and communities to prevent child exploitation and trafficking. The heart of our ministry lies in churches, where church employees, leaders, and members work together to act on behalf of children and youth.
Cherish All Children offers presentations, resources and tools for adults and youth to promote healthy and safe relationships, guided by our Christian values. Faith communities are powerful agents for social change, and we invite you to join us in raising healthy generations.
While we are based in Minnesota, many of our resources are available nationwide. Cherish All Children is a service of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota."
Cornerstone School-Based Services
Cornerstone’s School-Based Services presents on a variety of topics through our KNOW Abuse Violence Prevention Curriculum, as well as providing one-on-one youth advocacy to individual students from nine different schools concerning a variety of issues related to violence prevention, including: building healthy relationships, anger management issues, harassment, identifying abusive behaviors, building support networks, and positive emotional expression.
C.A.S.T.
Citizens Against Sex Trafficking (C.A.S.T.) is a 501(c)(3) founded in June 2017 by a group of concerned citizens in Washington County, MN who learned that human trafficking and sexual exploitation are not issues that “just takes place over there” (Minneapolis, big US cities, abroad, etc.), but are realities that take place every day in our own backyard. We are dedicated to uniting together as a community to put an end to sexual exploitation.
Not a Number (from LOVE146)
Not a Number is an interactive child trafficking and exploitation prevention curriculum designed to provide youth with information and skills in a manner that inspires them to make safe choices. Youth learn to identify and utilize healthy support systems that may decrease their vulnerabilities.
Take the Defenders Pledge
The Defenders are men who have come to understand the marketplace of commercial sexual exploitation. We are committed to doing everything in our power to stop that exploitation. At the core of our existence is the Defenders Pledge, where we commit our lives to bring dignity, honor, and respect to women and children. Out of that flow our other initiatives that exist to show women that we care, hold other men accountable, and working to end the demand for this destructive market. The question is: Are you a Defender?
Epik Project
Disrupting the demand for commercial sexual exploitation.
Dismantling the forces that perpetuate it.
Nurturing a generation of men who won’t buy sex.
Human Trafficking in America is a business and business is booming. Trafficking is at an all-time high, and unfortunately, so is male loneliness. At Epik Project we are tackling both of these issues by bringing men together, building community, and addressing sexual exploitation at its roots; the Demand.
Witness Walk
Over 500 people have learned about sex trafficking and explored ways to prevent it while viewing Witness Arts' collaborative artwork with trafficking survivors Traffic, Trauma and Treasure. Let us know if you would like to participate in or host an event in which this artwork is shared.