CEASE Arizona
Cities Empowered Against Sexual Exploitation
CEASE Arizona is a statewide initiative dedicated to educating and equipping municipal employees to recognize, report, and respond to sex trafficking in their communities.
Our mission is to reduce the demand for commercial sex by training and supporting the development of informed policies that disrupt exploitation at the local level.
The Issue
Sex trafficking is a crime fueled by the demand for commercial sex. Without the demand there is no market for sexual exploitation. Combatting trafficking requires a multi-pronged approach that includes awareness, prevention and systemic change.
Strategies
CEASE aims to incorporate a variety of tactics to stop sex buying, empower victims, and evolve our society’s understanding about the realities of commercial sex.
1.
Engage City Governments Statewide
Informed communities with effective anti-sex buying policy are safer cities to live, work and play. CEASE trains city employees throughout Arizona on how to identify and report human trafficking. We also work with elected leaders and a variety of stakeholders to craft public policy that reduces commercial sex transactions.
2.
Target Sex Buyers
We know the most effective interventions to eliminating sexual exploitation are those targeted toward those who perpetrate, including people who buy sex.
Priorities
1.
Education
We educate municipal and related stakeholders about human trafficking and sexual exploitation crimes.
2.
Intervention
We support diversion programs for sex buyers as a strategy to reduce demand, hold offenders accountable, and prevent future exploitation through education and behavioral change.
3.
Transformation
We change public perception about sex buying and advocate for public policy that reflects the view that no one should be bought, sold or exploited.
CEASE Cities
CEASE is pleased to recognize the following cities for their commitment to ending sexual exploitation.
Click here to begin the CEASE City designation process!
