Anti-Trafficking Conference

This years’ Freedom Network USA Human Trafficking Conference brought advocates from all over the country together for two days of learning, sharing, and collaboration in pursuit of “Centering Survivors and Impacted Communities.” We want to thank Freedom Network USA for holding space to bridge conversations between anti-trafficking work and sex workers’ rights. It has never been more apparent that we are allies in the work towards anti-exploitation.

During the conference, New Moon Co-Director Melodie Garcia was featured in a panel on decolonizing bodily autonomy, with author and consultant Justice Rivera and Sasanka Jinadasa of Reframe Health & Justice Consulting. New Moon appreciates Freedom Network USA for supporting this critical conversation surrounding bodily autonomy.

Our friends at Red Canary Song, a grassroots collective of Asian & Migrant Sex Workers, gave several presentations at the conference centering the needs and voices of criminalized massage workers in New York City. Their message was clear: criminalization of massage workers and others who work in massage shops is extremely harmful and ineffectual in preventing labor exploitation.

Later in the week, Melodie joined New Moon philanthropy partners at Funders Concerned About AIDS’ (FCAA) annual convening. Representing other sex worker-led groups were staff from Third Wave Fund, UHAI EASHRI, and Red Umbrella Fund. New Moon is excited to grow our network of movement allies, philanthropic organizers, and allies in this work.

Four people gathering at FCAA in the lobby of an event space.