The fight against human trafficking should be a united front—yet the movement is plagued by division. Instead of working together to dismantle trafficking networks and support survivors, advocacy groups, nonprofits, researchers, and policymakers often find themselves caught in ideological battles, funding competition, and infighting.

This division is toxic. It weakens the movement, slows progress, and ultimately benefits traffickers. If we are truly committed to ending human trafficking, we must first address the fractures within our own ranks.

How Did the Anti-Trafficking Movement Become So Divided?

While all stakeholders share the goal of eradicating trafficking, deep divides exist over how to achieve that goal. Some of the key sources of division include:

1. Competing Narratives

Different organizations emphasize different aspects of trafficking. Some focus solely on sex trafficking, while others advocate for more attention to labor trafficking. Some prioritize criminal justice approaches, while others believe social services and prevention should take center stage. While these perspectives are all valuable, the competition between them often leads to infighting instead of comprehensive solutions.

2. Disagreements Over Data & Methods

The anti-trafficking movement frequently debates the accuracy of statistics, definitions, and intervention strategies. Although accuracy is crucial, these disputes can publicly damage the movement’s credibility.

3. Funding & Resource Competition

Nonprofits rely on grants and donations to continue their work, creating a competitive atmosphere where organizations feel pressured to highlight their impact—sometimes at the expense of collaboration. Instead of pooling resources and knowledge, groups often work in silos, duplicating efforts and missing opportunities for greater impact.

4. Survivor vs. Non-Survivor Tensions

Survivor leadership is essential in shaping policies and programs, but tension sometimes arises between survivor-led organizations and larger institutions. Some survivor leaders feel sidelined, while some established organizations feel unfairly criticized. These conflicts, if not resolved, hinder collaboration and limit the effectiveness of both groups.

Why This Division is Dangerous

While these conflicts may seem like internal issues, they have serious real-world consequences:

🔴  Traffickers Benefit from a Divided Movement – When advocacy groups are distracted by disagreements, traffickers face less unified opposition.

🔴  Survivors Suffer the Most – Survivors need a system that works together to provide legal, medical, and emotional support. Division creates gaps in services and support.

🔴  Wasted Resources – Instead of maximizing impact, division leads to duplicated efforts, inefficiency, and missed opportunities.

🔴  Loss of Public Trust – When the movement is seen as fractured, it loses credibility, making it harder to rally public and legislative support.

The Path Forward: A Call for Unity

The anti-trafficking movement must move past internal conflicts and focus on collaboration. Here’s how we can do it:

✅  Collaboration Over Competition – Organizations must prioritize partnership and information-sharing over competing for funding and influence.

✅  Recognizing All Forms of Trafficking – Instead of arguing over which form of trafficking deserves more attention, efforts should address all types of exploitation.

✅  Centering Survivors While Valuing Allies – Survivor voices must be at the forefront, but collaboration with law enforcement, policymakers, and researchers remains essential.

✅  Unified Messaging – Healthy debate is necessary, but the movement must present a united front to the public and policymakers.

Ending human trafficking requires a strong, unified effort. We cannot afford to let ego, politics, or competition weaken our fight. Survivors deserve better. The world needs better. The Bible, Romans 16:17–18 says, “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive”.

It’s time to put aside differences and work together to end trafficking for good.

Written by Julie Shrader