Despite the growing scale and complexity of sexual exploitation, many national laws fail to reflect its gendered nature or the realities faced by women and girls in both physical and digital spaces. Traffickers and exploiters operate with impunity, using manipulation, coercion, and violence, and are now increasingly aided by the internet and digital technology.
Most survivors are women and girls, many of whom come from marginalized communities and discriminated-against groups. They are disproportionately criminalized, while those profiting from their exploitation often evade justice. Without strong and gendered legal frameworks grounded in international human rights law and principles, the cycle of abuse continues.
Governments are obligated under international human rights law to prevent and combat sexual exploitation. However, national laws often fail to address the gendered nature of these crimes, enabling perpetrators to act with impunity and trapping survivors in cycles of exploitation.
International human rights law provides strong tools for preventing and responding to sexual exploitation:
There are also regional instruments that call on State Parties to put in place appropriate measures to protect women and girls from all forms of violence and exploitation including sexual exploitation and trafficking, including:
Equality Now works to strengthen legal protections and close critical gaps in international and national frameworks. Our approach includes:
We also contribute legal expertise to shape international laws and standards and convene multi-stakeholder dialogues aimed at consolidating joined-up global responses to sexual exploitation in digital and physical spaces.
