Intern Advocacy and Legislative Action @PACT
French law student Elise Hirsch wanted to intern for PACT because of our “comprehensive approach to combating human trafficking, which includes prevention, education, training, and advocacy.” She is particularly interested in PACT’s efforts in legislative action, and how she can apply her knowledge of international human rights to help create systemic change.
Mid-May, she represented PACT at an advocacy day organized by New Yorkers for The Equality Model in support of the Sex Trade Survivors Justice & Equality Act. At the event, Elise joined PACT CEO Lori Cohen at four different meetings with the teams of NYS Senators. At each meeting, she shared successes in the French legal system that could be replicated in New York.
Elise explained the benefits of a law passed in France in 2016 that kept penalties in place for pimps and sex buyers, but offered services & resources to people in prostitution. As a result, both prostitution and sex trafficking rates dropped steeply, and many people receiving job training have since exited the commercial sex trade. These individuals are now building meaningful lives for themselves and their families.
Elise noted that the collaboration between various organizations united against human trafficking at the advocacy day was incredibly impactful. This experience confirmed for her that legislative change is paramount to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable.
More about the legislation in her own words:
What We Can Learn From the French Law of April 13, 2016 - By Elise Hirsh
What is this law? The legislation prioritizes the human rights of people in prostitution by decriminalizing those selling sex, instead targeting the prosecution of buyers and pimps. This shift reduces exploitation and trafficking, aligning with principles of human dignity and equality, and has helped women leave the sex trade and rebuild their lives through training and social services. This approach to sex trafficking is a foundation of the “Equality Model”, also called the “Nordic Model”.
What does it lead to? Countries that have adopted the Equality Model have observed a significant decrease in human trafficking and exploitation. By making the purchase of sex illegal, it discourages traffickers who profit from such demand.
“This bill is about recognizing that we cannot separate a woman from her body. We cannot talk about consent when the average age for a person to end up in the sex trade is 14. Even as adults, many only know this life, so is it truly their choice?
Anybody can be trafficked; it is everywhere. There is impunity regarding pimps that must change. We must ensure that human rights and dignity are upheld.”
Nice work, Elise!