Our Vision:
To build a world in which no child is bought, sold, or used for sex.
Our Mission:
We protect every child’s right to grow up free from child sexual exploitation and trafficking through education, legislative advocacy and partnerships. We empower youth and communities, advocate for policy change, and develop strong and sustainable partnerships to educate and raise awareness on child human trafficking.
Founded in 1991, we were the first U.S. organization to focus on the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
We are a member of ECPAT International, a network of organizations in over 100 countries working together toward the elimination of the sexual exploitation of children.
In 2023, we changed our name to PACT and renewed our commitment to Protect All Children from Trafficking.
We believe in the power of prevention!
Child trafficking for sexual exploitation is a particularly distressing issue. Every child deserves to grow up free from the horrors of sexual exploitation, but the reality is that millions of children worldwide are subjected to this unimaginable crime. The sexual exploitation of children is not only a violation of their rights but also leaves lasting physical, emotional, and psychological scars.
Did you know?
27.6 million people are victims of trafficking worldwide.
23% of them are in situations of forced commercial sexual exploitation at any point in time.
Four out of five people trapped in these situations are girls and women.
Half of all children forced in labor are in commercial sexual exploitation.
Source: ILO, 2023
What is child sex trafficking?
Very few people understand the realities of trafficking. The truth is, child trafficking and sexual exploitation happen everywhere in the United States. It affects every community in the United States, and disproportionately affect vulnerable communities experiencing generational trauma and systemic inequality, particularly LGBTQ+ children and children of color. Estimates are conservative. Many cases go unreported, and there is no central data source.
Child sex trafficking is when someone under 18 is bought or sold for sexual purposes. There is no cross-state movement required.
Sexual exploitation includes collection or sale of child sexual abuse material, online enticement, and child sexual molestation.
Abuse can take many forms, but the common thread is the dynamic between the trafficker and the victim. The abuser is often a person already in the child’s life.
Through our Survivors’ Council, we make room for survivors to lead.
Survivor-Informed:
This approach meaningfully engages a diverse community of people with lived experience and incorporates their input and expertise at all stages, from start to finish of all efforts, including development, implementation, and evaluation.
The Survivors’ Council creates a space for survivors to gather and share their stories safely. Their lived experiences and stories guide everything we do. By centering their voices, we ensure that our programs and advocacy efforts are survivor-informed and survivor-led.
Established in 2017, the PACT Survivors' Council is composed of members from diverse identities, backgrounds, genders, ages, and sexual orientations. Each Survivors' story is unique but they all share the desire to use their experience to educate the public on the issue of child sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. Members of the Survivors' Council consult and provide subject matter expertise to PACT staff during program development and evaluation. The contributions of the Survivors' Council are essential to PACT's work and mission.
“Being a part of the PACT Survivors’ Council has brought me into a larger family of survivor leaders and greater support. We have different stories but shared wounds. In that we find greater healing together, and united in that we are part of a growing army of survivors who fight human trafficking in all its forms.”
Sean Wheeler, Survivor’s Council Member
PACT believes in Survivor-led initiatives, but what does that mean?
Survivor-Led:
This approach values survivors, the people with lived experience, and their unique expertise by actively positioning and supporting them in all levels and kinds of leadership and decision-making positions to transform the conditions that allow exploitation.
Meet Our Team
Meet the passionate individuals behind our mission.
Our dedicated team and Board members bring diverse expertise and unwavering commitment to our cause. Together, we work collaboratively to drive systemic change and protect children from sexual exploitation and trafficking.
ANNUAL REPORTS
Transparency is key to our PACT. Explore our annual reports to see the impact we've made, the challenges we've faced, and our plans for the future. These reports highlight the progress we have achieved and provide a comprehensive overview of our activities, financials, and outcomes.