Today is Denim Day, an internationally-recognized day to support survivors of sexual violence and bring awareness to the issue of victim-blaming. Human trafficking survivors know this issue all too well. Victim-blaming often looks like questioning what a survivor could have, or should have, done differently to “prevent” their trafficking situation - such as not engaging in commercial sex or accepting a job that turns out to be a trafficking scam. But human trafficking is never the victim’s fault. Victim-blaming has real effects on survivors, including on their mental health, their ability to seek help, and their criminal records. Read the blog and learn more about the culture of victim-blaming: https://polarisproject.org/blog/2023/04/the-impact-of-victim-blaming-on-human-trafficking-survivors/ (fb)

Exciting news! The TAKE IT DOWN Act has passed Congress. This important legislation criminalizes the distribution of non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated "deepfakes," and requires platforms to remove reported images within 48 hours. Polaris supports this critical step forward in the fight against image-based sexual abuse. Congratulations to the advocates, lawmakers, and survivors who worked to get this bill passed. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children National Center on Sexual Exploitation RAINN (fb)