Dressember’s 12-Year Fight Against Human Trafficking Unites Advocates Worldwide, Raising $20M+
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I remember the first time I held my son, Behr—after a harrowing 44 hour labor and delivery via emergency C-section (what an entrance he made!)—and felt an overwhelming flood of emotion. I felt a rush of love, of gratitude, and also a fierce protectiveness I had never known before.
Becoming a mom five years ago profoundly transformed my life’s purpose, especially in my work advocating to end human trafficking. As someone who experienced sexual abuse as a child, my commitment to this work has always been personal. For years, my “why” was driven by the pain and injustice I endured, and the determination to ensure that no child should suffer sexual exploitation. However, motherhood has added layers of meaning and urgency to my mission.
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In today's world of fast fashion and overconsumption, secondhand shops offer an accessible alternative for those looking to make environmentally and socially responsible choices. These stores give new life to pre-loved items and often support local communities and charitable causes. To help you build a more ethical wardrobe, we've highlighted some standout secondhand shops across the U.S. where many Dressember Advocates reside.
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I am constantly in awe of the incredible Dressember advocate community. Your unwavering dedication and open-hearted approach to supporting victims and survivors of human trafficking and violence are truly remarkable. Thanks to you, people across the world are experiencing tangible freedom and healing.
It’s important to address the often unseen side of everyday advocacy: the emotional cost of engaging in this important work. As we delve into the harsh realities of human trafficking through the Dressember campaign, we’re not just learning statistics or stories; we’re immersing ourselves in the trauma that survivors endure. This can take a toll on our own well-being, leading to what’s known as vicarious trauma.
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I had the privilege of visiting the Guatemala City office of International Justice Mission, Dressember’s partner, in July 2022. The focus of IJM’s work in Guatemala is ending sexual violence against women and girls.
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This year marked my third consecutive year of donning a dress every day in December and advocating with Dressember to combat human trafficking. On the eve of the style challenge each year, I grapple with doubts about the impact of my advocacy. What if my voice and choice to advocate don’t really matter? Can I actually make a difference in the huge fight against human trafficking?
The answer, every year, is yes.
As we head into the new year, I encourage you to reflect on your Dressember experience and know this: the valuable lessons learned through your advocacy can extend well beyond December. Read more for five key takeaways on slow fashion that I learned from participating in the Dressember campaign.
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The gift-giving season is upon us, and while it is a time to celebrate and cherish our loved ones, it’s crucial to consider the trust cost of our spending. The holiday season often sees a surge of over-consumption, leading to increased waste and overworked laborers. A recent study by the Center for Biological Diversity revealed that Americans generate 23% more waste in December than in other months of the year, and 33% who received a gift they didn’t like threw it away.
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After an unpredictable upbringing, *Mara dreamed of stability in her finances and her family. And when she fell in love with a young man online who connected her with a job opportunity, she thought her dreams were coming true.
But when Mara moved to be with him, he trafficked Mara for sexual exploitation.
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Don’t have a closet full of dresses to participate in the Dressember Style Challenge? The good news is—you don’t need 31 dresses to make a meaningful impact in the fight against human trafficking. In fact, you can spark conversations about this injustice with just one dress or tie. With our sustainable fashion tips, you can confidently step into December with a complete guide of ideas to make your dresses and ties last all month!
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“[I am] a brave person. [I am] very courageous despite all that has happened to [me]. ”
This is how Malone* describes himself, and we agree. With the support of advocates like you, Malone is now on a journey of healing and restoration. But Malone’s bravery comes at a heavy cost.
Malone is a survivor of the Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC). OSEC is the virtual creation, processing, and distribution of child sexual abuse to offenders all over the world.
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Have you ever felt like an issue was too overwhelming for your voice to make an impact? That’s precisely what I used to think about human trafficking. It’s an immense injustice that often feels abstract and beyond our reach. I believed that there were more qualified people who should handle the issue, and I wasn’t equipped for the task. However, I couldn’t have been more mistaken. The fight against human trafficking isn’t just within my reach; it’s a cause I can wholeheartedly champion with Dressember.
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At Dressember, we understand everyone’s journey is different, and no survivor is the same. That’s why we partner with survivor-informed organizations to provide holistic aftercare, job skills training, therapy, basic needs support, and more. From Freedom Centers in Bulgaria to residential programs in The Philippines and Uganda, Dressember resources safe housing and trauma-informed aftercare to empower survivors’ sustained liberation. Another way that we support survivors on their healing journey is by helping them get criminal record relief from the illegal activity they were forced to commit while they were being trafficked. Read on to learn about the diverse and innovative aftercare programs you can help resource when you support Dressember.
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Human traffickers prey upon people’s vulnerabilities. When tragedy hit Oscar's family, he struggled to cope. Alcohol gave him some solace but led to the loss of his job in construction and, eventually, his family's home. Oscar felt ashamed and did not want to ask for help. So when someone reached out to offer him a lucrative job in construction, Oscar jumped at the chance. Unfortunately, the opportunity was a trap laid by a human trafficker.
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The conflict in Ukraine has resulted in the forced displacement of millions of people. It is estimated that more than 90% of these refugees are women and children, who are particularly vulnerable to traffickers. Refugees have a heightened risk of human trafficking due to compounding vulnerabilities such as economic desperation, decreased access to social services and safe shelter, language barriers, and so much more.
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Out of sight, out of mind. It can be easy not to think about the people who work so hard to produce things we buy every day when we don't see them. The reality is that in the United States, farm workers do the work that all of us depend on daily because we all need to eat, but they are too often employed for a painfully low wage.
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The impact made possible through the Dressember community is dynamic and powerful, particularly in the lives of vulnerable youth. Preventing human trafficking involves addressing root causes and changing systems. We look upstream to acknowledge factors that make certain groups more susceptible to trafficking.
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We understand the value of knowing exactly where your money goes when you make a donation. In the anti-trafficking movement, every dollar counts—that's why we are bringing back our Where Does My Money Go blog series. We hope this series will help you better understand how the Dressember Network supports and develops programs in advocacy, prevention, intervention, and survivor empowerment so you can rest assured that your money funds programs that dismantle human trafficking from every angle.
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College is a stressful time of life where convenience inevitably becomes our priority. It’s hard to manage a full school workload, extracurricular activities, jobs, and taking care of ourselves as it is; how could we possibly find the time and mental capacity to create a sustainable wardrobe? But, fear not, this comprehensive guide on practicing slow fashion, designed especially for college students, and does all the heavy lifting for us.
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We empower survivors’ sustained liberation through capacity-building initiatives to build long-term stability. Holistic aftercare is a critical part of a survivor’s healing journey, and over the last year, you enabled the Dressember Network to empower survivors in a big way.
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The impact made possible on the lives of survivors like Gamya and their families through the Dressember community is far-reaching. Gamya’s story offers just one example of the work we have done together in the last year for victims and survivors around the world. The Dressember Network partners with organizations worldwide that support prosecution and intervention in trafficking situations. Alongside local partners, government, and law enforcement, your support over the last tear enabled the aid of 4,269 victims and the restraint of 3,189 perpetrators of human trafficking across Kolkata and Mumbai in India, Cebu and Manila in the Philippines, and Guatemala.
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