Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking: A Unified Call for Advocacy

 In A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power, President Jimmy Carter states, “The abuse of women and girls is the most pervasive and unaddressed human rights violation on Earth” (Carter, 2014, p. 3). This powerful statement underscores the systemic barriers faced by survivors of domestic violence (DV) and human trafficking (HT), as both movements emphasize the urgent need for societal and policy-level reforms. In 2024 alone, approximately 1.37 million domestic violence victimizations were reported in the United States, and 1 million were incidents of intimate partner violence (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2023). Despite these staggering numbers, nearly half of such incidents go unreported, revealing the hidden nature of this abuse. Globally, reports from the World Health Organization and UN agencies indicate that about 30% of women experience intimate partner violence during their lifetime, with the highest rates in low- and middle-income countries (WHO, 2023). The pervasiveness of violence against women worldwide remains a call to action for advocates, policymakers, and communities alike.

The domestic violence movement gained traction during the 1960s and 70s. Activists worked to shift public perception, moving domestic violence from a private issue to a public crisis. This led to the creation of shelters and hotlines to support victims. The 1994 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) marked a major legislative milestone, allocating resources to help survivors of domestic violence. However, systemic barriers remain, particularly for women who defend themselves against their abusers. Vanguard professor and Co-Founder of the Global Center for Women and Justice, Elizabeth Dermody Leonard (2002), in *Convicted Survivors*, highlights how the justice system often criminalized women who fight back, failing to recognize their trauma and the systemic failures they face. The language around domestic violence has evolved as well; no longer do we use terms like “battered woman syndrome,” which places blame on the survivor's psychological state. Advocates like Jackson Katz argue for language that shifts the focus to the perpetrator’s actions, emphasizing accountability and systemic causes of abuse.

The rise of the anti-human trafficking movement in the late 1990s mirrors the domestic violence advocacy movement’s trajectory, sharing a goal of ending systemic exploitation. International initiatives like the Palermo Protocol (2000) and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) in the U.S. provided frameworks for addressing trafficking globally and nationally. Like domestic violence shelters, faith-based organizations and nonprofits have provided critical support for trafficking survivors. Yet, Leonard’s concept of “convicted survivors” applies here too, as many trafficking survivors face criminal charges for actions they were coerced into while being trafficked. These women, already victims of systemic violence, continue to be oppressed by legal systems that should protect them.

Both the domestic violence and anti-human trafficking movements prioritize trauma-informed, survivor-centered care. Legislative actions such as VAWA and TVPA have been instrumental in creating protective frameworks for survivors, but gaps remain—especially for those who are criminalized as discussed in our recent Ending Human Trafficking podcast #327 with Anabel Martinez. Public awareness campaigns like Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October) and anti-trafficking initiatives (Human Trafficking and Slavery Prevention Month – January) have brought these issues into public discourse, yet awareness alone is insufficient. As Leonard (2002) argues, without systemic reforms, survivors will continue to be re-victimized by the very systems meant to help them.

Collaboration between the two movements is key to better supporting survivors. Many domestic violence shelters now provide services to trafficking survivors, recognizing the overlap between the two forms of abuse. Cross-training for service providers ensures that survivors receive holistic care, addressing both physical and emotional needs. Community partnerships are also crucial, helping to identify victims earlier and advocate for systemic change. Leonard’s research calls for an integrated approach, emphasizing the need to address all aspects of a survivor’s trauma and the systems that perpetuate it. For the Global Center for Women and Justice, it means that we empower our students and our community to study the issues, be a voice, and make a difference as we confront violence against women in our own backyard and beyond. President Jimmy Carter turned 100 years old recently. His call to action on behalf of women and girls remains a profound and urgent necessity.

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References:

- Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2023). *National Crime Victimization Survey, 2022*.

- Carter, J. (2014). *A call to action: Women, religion, violence, and power*. Simon & Schuster.

- Leonard, E. D. (2002). *Convicted survivors: The imprisonment of battered women who kill*. State University of New York Press.

- World Health Organization. (2023). *Violence Against Women Prevalence Estimates 2018*. Retrieved from [https://www.who.int] (https://www.who.int).