It’s true – we can have all the legislation in the world to prevent sex trafficking, but ending demand for prostitution and pornography is the only guaranteed way to end sexual exploitation. Ultimately trafficking is fueled by greed, lust, and power, and these are issues of the heart.

Men, on behalf of

those who are being exploited, I call you to a higher standard. Stand up for what is right. Don’t let your friends push you around. Don’t cave into pressure. Develop a heart of compassion, and don’t make excuses for exploiting someone else’s vulnerability. Don’t think you are a hero because you are paying for sex with someone so they can supposedly “feed their family,” but learn to give without expecting something in return.

In one way or another, we are all guilty of exploitation. Be it our selfish spending habits that leave us with less margin to give generously to those in need, or the companies we support that are exploiting the poor through the lack of adequate labour regulations, or the way we treat others, or the sexual decisions we make – we are all part of the cycle of exploitation. Let’s bravely identify these areas of our lives, make a change, and end exploitation one decision at a time!