Dressember Survivor Justice Initiative in Partnership with Karana Rising
Photo by Romain Dancre on Unsplash
Through our work with survivors, we’ve learned one way we can demand change is to take a stand against the criminalization and incarceration of survivors. Unfortunately, many victims of trafficking are often charged with crimes they committed under the influence of (or pressured by) their trafficker. In some cases, they are arrested on prostitution charges--even if they’re under 18 and cannot legally consent to sex. Many times these arrests result in incarceration and life-long consequences that preclude survivors from many forms of employment, access to resources, and more. The lack of protection in the legal system for victims of trafficking is glaring and oftentimes both bias and ignorance obstruct true justice.
Advocacy is our bread and butter. Our campaign is built on small, consistent actions and mobilizing a lot of people. This can look like a lot of different things, but to us, it’s about mobilizing a community to demand change.
At Dressember, we prioritize programs that address human trafficking systemically and believe that trafficking rarely occurs as a lone injustice; it is an intersectional human rights issue preying on individuals with compounding vulnerabilities. Furthermore, we consider it non-negotiable to center survivors in this work. Our efforts can only go so far if they are not rooted in survivor-informed methods and practices. Our work doesn’t stop at prevention or intervention—we support survivors by resourcing education programs, legal advocacy, and holistic healing.
This Spring we’re excited to announce the Dressember Survivor Justice Initiative in partnership with Karana Rising. Karana Rising is a survivor-led organization committed to supporting survivors for life from incarceration to healing and wellness. Through this initiative, we will be joining forces to advocate for several currently incarcerated survivors and educate the public on how we can demand their freedom with clear records so they can begin their journey toward healing. Our hope is that by bringing awareness to this injustice, we can help avoid the future incarceration of victims of trafficking.
Follow along with us this month as we talk about the criminalization of trafficking victims, the challenges for incarcerated survivors, and what we can do to demand change.
About the Author
Tori Schaulis is the Communications Manager at Dressember. She is originally from the Midwest, spent her growing up years in the South and ended up in sunny Southern California to start her Masters at Fuller Seminary. After living abroad twice and working with international students at Baylor University, Tori decided to pursue work where she could use her passion to advocate for others. You can find her leading workshops in Unconscious Bias and having conversations about social justice and sustainable practices. When she’s not studying or working, Tori enjoys baking (and dancing) in her kitchen, writing, and traveling someplace new.