There is no denying the growing existence of the sex work industry. Millions of people globally rely on sex work for income. Whether due to poverty, unemployment, choice, or sex trafficking and exploitation, the market exists, and demand is not dying.
Similar to most industries, the sex trade has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic decline, and sex work has become digitalised. In countries like the UK, sex workers now primarily operate online, using classified ads platforms to advertise their services and reach clients.
The reality is that for as long as sex work and all activities surrounding prostitution are not legally recognised and protected, with no legal recourse, both clients and sex workers are at risk of sexual exploitation.
While the online migration of sex has assisted in creating safer conditions, with classified ad platforms in the UK forced to comply with laws protecting minors and restricting brothels, the lack of legal recourse for victims leaves room for sexual exploitation to occur.
Because prostitution operates within a grey legal area, most people are either not aware of the rights afforded to sex workers or find it intimidating to enquire and report crimes against sex workers. So, what do you do when you are seeking sexual services and find yourself concerned about the woes of sex trafficking and exploitation?
The first step is understanding the key distinctions within the industry.
Prostitution is legally defined as the exchange of sexual acts for payment, although it is not illegal; many acts surrounding it are criminalised. This includes the act of pimping, which refers to when a person controls one or more sex workers and takes a portion of their earnings.
To ensure compliance from sex workers, pimps often use coercive methods such as intimidation and, in extreme cases, violence. They may offer protection or services like advertising and location, but this practice is illegal and often associated with sex trafficking.
Using reputable adult ad platforms that have mandatory identity verification and ad screening protocols helps reduce the risk of engaging with or obtaining sexual services from victims of sex trafficking and exploitation. The are warning signs that clients can look out for to ensure that they are not co-conspirators in sexual exploitation.
These are some of the signs exhibited by exploited escorts:
- They may appear scared, intimidated, or confused and have signs of physical abuse.
- They are closely guarded or controlled by another person.
- They are unable to personally collect payment or keep it.
- They have a limited English vocabulary, restricted to sexualised words.
- They may live in groups, all sleeping at the premises where they work, which could indicate a brothel is operating.
How to respond and report concerns
It is important to act quickly when there is suspect that someone is being sexually exploited or trafficked. Aside from the metro police, several organisations in the UK deal with these cases.
If you think there is an immediate danger to life or a threat of violence, call 999, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Other organisations include Unseen UK, which has a modern slavery and exploitation Helpline (08000 121 700) and a dedicated Unseen App for people to report suspicions of sexual exploitation.
The role of advertisers and the path forward
Online classified ad platforms have a responsibility to help ensure their platforms are not inundated with exploited escorts and minors. By implementing ad screening and identity verification, they make it harder for exploitation to take place in the online space, especially when escorts manage their own profiles and bookings.
Although there have been some positive strides in the past two decades, most sex work advocacy groups agree that the best way to counter sex trafficking and exploitation is through legalizing prostitution and recognizing sex work as legitimate work.
Whilst we wait for this change, we all have to do our part to protect the lives of those who choose to engage in sex work and to reduce the number of those who are forced into the trade.