About WASE Forward
Washington Against Sexual Exploitation (WASE Forward)Â is a coalition of 34 agencies that was formed in 2021. WASE Forward was formed to bring together leaders from many organizations to work together. The goal is to prevent the commercial sexual exploitation of vulnerable people in Washington state. The purpose of WASE Forward is to promote policies and practices that enhance support and justice for people with lived experience of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. WASE Forward is guided by a diverse leadership team including professionals with program, research, and lived experience of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Mission
WASE Forward is a Washington initiative to promote policies and practices that enhance support and justice for people with lived experience of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Definitions
SEX TRAFFICKINGÂ means (1) the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel an adult into a commercial sex act like prostitution or (2) engaging a minor in a commercial sex act.
Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) of Adults occurs when another person or systemic factors—such as poverty, discrimination, trauma, substance abuse, homelessness, lack of access to education, healthcare, documentation, or other basic needs—compel an adult to enter or remain in the sex trade.
Exploiters capitalize on disparities in age, race, gender, sexual orientation, and social or economic power to coerce or manipulate more vulnerable individuals.
Commercial sex industries—including prostitution, pornography, sugaring, and sex tourism—are rooted in and continue to reinforce inequity and violence against society’s most marginalized populations.