Summary: What can be done about the current climate where sexual exploitation is seemingly everywhere? Are there organized efforts that call for change? How can we be empowered to advocate for ending sexual exploitation in our communities?<br> <br> Dawn Hawkins is the Executive Director of the <a href="http://endsexualexploitation.org">National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE)</a>, a leading national organization exposing the links between all forms of sexual exploitation such as child sexual abuse, prostitution, sex trafficking and the public health crisis of pornography. She explains,<br> "One of the weaknesses in the fight against any one area of sexual exploitation is that we often silo these issues.But in reality, they are all interconnected. It’s so important that we look at how pornography is connected to violence against women or how pornography is driving demand for sex trafficking and prostitution, or how pornography even is connected to child sexual abuse and child pornography. There is so much intersectionality, and we do a disservice when we try to silo them out."<br> Sexual Exploitation Is Everywhere<br> Anne, founder of Betrayal Trauma Recovery states,<br> "Many people, when they hear about sex trafficking and exploitation and pornography, they get kind of depressed because it’s so uncomfortable and can seem hopeless."<br> Dawn explains how she sees these issues and how people can help,<br> "It is important to remember that anyone anywhere can challenge and oppose sexual exploitation whenever and wherever they see it. <a href="http://endsexualexploitation.org">The National Center on Sexual Exploitation</a>, focuses on changing policies that we see as facilitating sexual exploitation. Sometimes those polices are government related, but often our work is focused on corporate policies. Just add a little bit of hope-- we get real results and we’ve had huge victories. We got Google, for example, to kick all sexually explicit apps out of Google Play and to stop all explicit and pornographic advertisements. We got 5 major hotels to stop selling pornography. Essentially that is 2 million hotel rooms around the world that don’t have pornography through the on-demand system."<br> Sexual Exploitation Can Be Stopped<br> Anne sees these advocacy efforts producing change as empowering,<br> "There are thousands and thousands and hundreds of thousands of people all over the world, across the globe, who are working toward a pornography and exploitation free world."<br> Check out the amazing efforts of <a href="http://endsexualexploitation.org">NCOSE</a> today and lend your help to this organization. You can even lend a hand to advocate from your own home, by writing emails, signing petitions, and sharing the calls to action on social media.<br> <br> As always, our aim here at BTR is to be here for you. If you are struggling with issues related to the trauma of betrayal, check out<a href="https://www.btr.org/services/support-group/"> Betrayal Trauma Recovery Group</a> to help you explore boundaries and maintain safety. As always, our <a href="https://www.btr.org/services/individual-sessions/">Individual Sessions</a> are also helpful in recovery and empowerment.We are always looking for stories of victims. If you would like to come on the podcast and share your story, please email us at <a href="mailto:anne@btr.org">anne@btr.org</a> and share your story. The more we can share and get stories like this out into the light the more it helps all victims everywhere.<br> <br> If this podcast and these types of materials are helpful to you, please make a <a href="https://www.btr.org/donate/">recurring donation.</a> Similarly, every single one of your ratings on any of your podcasting apps like iTunes or Stitcher helps isolated women find us so please rate the BTR podcast.<br> <br> Until next week, stay safe out there.<br> Full Transcript:<br>
