April 3, 2012: Words=Change Workshop Will Engage Writers
Writers in Chicago have the opportunity to use the power of the pen to fight sexual exploitation. Next week, CAASE, The Voices and Faces Project and the Neighborhood Writing Alliance are teaming up to offer a free workshop to 25 participants who want to learn how to address issues of sexual violence and the sex trade in their writing.

A new toolkit for writers has also been released in preparation for the event and is available for free download on CAASE’s website here, with supplemental information here. The workshop is open to all writers, whether they have survived sexual exploitation or are simply motivated to raise awareness and deepen understanding through their writing.

"Testimony is at the heart of every social justice movement, and language can be a powerful force for change,” said Anne Ream, founder of The Voices and Faces Project. “When we write about the injustices we've lived or witnessed, we bring those who read our words close - at times painfully close - to the issue of violence against women.  Behind every social injustice there is a deeply personal story, and our words can make such stories feel real."

“It’s important to give tangible action steps that people can take to end sexual exploitation,” said Rachel Durchslag, CAASE’s executive director. “This new toolkit offers ideas, facts and inspiration for writers who want to take on the subjects of prostitution, sex trafficking and sexual assault.”

The Neighborhood Writing Alliance envisions a society where adults connect through creative communities in which writing, discussing, and publishing personal narrative leads to civic engagement, neighborhood vitality, and social transformation. “This event and toolkit will build community around ending sexual exploitation and harm and will equip readers with tools to raise awareness and create change,” said Rachael Hudak, program director of the Neighborhood Writing Alliance.

Words=Change will be held April 12, 2012,6–8 p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center (Millennium Room, 5th floor) located at 78 E. Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602.

Space is limited for this event. Please RSVP to Rachael at rhudak@jot.org or by calling 773-684-2742.

March 5, 2012: CAASE Urges Support for State and Federal Legislation
The Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation urges our supporters to take action and contact your legislators about legislation that will affect women and girls in our community, specifically survivors of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and domestic violence. Read our list of proposed legislation that we support and oppose here, and take action today!

February 29, 2012: Reforming Illinois' Trafficking Law: Support HB 5278
CAASE's End Demand Illinois campaign is partnering with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office to propose reform to our state’s human trafficking laws. The reforms make the law more effective by:

• More closely reflecting the tactics used by human traffickers to cause harm, making it easier for prosecutors to build cases against these perpetrators.
• Creating a statute of limitations that gives prosecutors more time to bring forward trafficking cases when the victims are minors.
• Making it possible for more of the fines collected from johns to go to support services for survivors.

Learn more about the proposed legislation by downloading a full fact sheet here.

We will need your help in the coming weeks as this law is considered by the state legislature. Check back soon for more updates.

February 24, 2012: Illinois Budget Cuts Rape Crisis Funding
TAKE ACTION to tell your legislator to maintain funding

The budget proposed by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn yesterday cuts funding for rape crisis services while increasing funding for sex offenders. The Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) is urging legislators to take the proposed increases for the Sexually Violent Persons program and reallocate that funding to maintain rape crisis services. A few facts:

Funding for rape crisis services has dropped 26.5% from FY09 to FY13.

It’s projected that rape crisis centers will serve 18,900 survivors in 2012. The proposed budget allocates only $222 per victim served at rape crisis centers.

In comparison, the budget allocates $26,831,000 to the Sexually Violent Persons Program (a 6%-8% increase) at a cost of $56,368 per offender.

You can take action—reach out to your legislator and share this information.

Download a full fact sheet with more information from ICASA here, and share with your state legislators.

February 2, 2012: Strip Clubs Exploit Women, Keep Their Earnings
In light of story out of Elgin that owners took $3 million in fees from dancers

CHICAGO- News broke today that strip club owners in Elgin, Illinois, allegedly earned more than $3 million in fees from women who danced in their venue. They are under investigation for not reporting this money for taxes. Sadly, the fact that this much money was earned in a strip club is not surprising. Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation urges the community to become aware of the exploitation that occurs in strip clubs throughout Chicagoland.

Some people believe that stripping makes women rich. Instead, they are often indebted to the club indefinitely. As soon as a woman begins dancing at a club, it can cost her money rather than being a lucrative job. Many of the women who dance at strip clubs or strip for a house-call company are hired as independent contractors instead of as employees and are therefore not paid a salary or hourly wages. Despite this classification, the clubs maintain enormous control over the women, setting their schedules and hours and setting the prices a dancer can charge for table or private dances.

Additionally, the women often pay the club stage fees or “rent,” sometimes as high as $150 per night. In addition, women pay the club a commission of up to 20% from private dances and tips. Many clubs also require dancers to “tip out”—sharing a percentage of what they earn with the bartender, waitresses, bouncers, house mother, and DJ.

To learn more about the harms that strip clubs cause to women, please visit our fact sheet.

CAASE is the lead agency for End Demand Illinois, a statewide campaign to hold pimps, johns and sex traffickers accountable. End Demand Illinois advocates for new tools and resources for law enforcement to investigate and convict traffickers, pimps, and the people who are buying sex. Simultaneously, the campaign works to support the development of a statewide infrastructure of supportive services for people who have been prostituted or trafficked. Learn more at www.enddemandillinois.org

February 1, 2012: Resources for Statistics on Sexual Assault

“No matter which study you choose, it’s clear that we have a problem with sexual violence in this country and we need to figure out how to turn that around.”

Statistics about sexual assault and sexual abuse are being talked about in the media, with some calling the prevalence of rape into question. Just recently, the FBI updated their archaic definition of rape to be more inclusive (and for the first time to count sexual assaults of men).

As an organization that works with and advocates for the rights of survivors of sexual assault, CAASE believes it’s important to have accurate, current data. Fortunately, we have allies who are doing great work in leading studies and sifting through other information to get to the heart of these issues.

Just this week, a Washington Post opinion writer questioned the veracity of the CDC’s statistics on sexual assault and the prevalence of rape in general. Our allies at the National Sexual Violence Resource Center responded to this article in a statement that addresses the CDC, FBI and their own recent “National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey” Please find their full statement here. As Karen Baker of the NSVRC explains: “No matter which study you choose, it’s clear that we have a problem with sexual violence in this country and we need to figure out how to turn that around.”

For more information about CAASE’s work with survivors of sexual assault, please visit our Legal Services page.