New Hampshire Juvenile Sex Trafficking Survivor Urges Representatives To Vote Against Decriminalized Prostitution, Darlene Pawlik, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Feb 2017
New Hampshire Juvenile Sex Trafficking Survivor Urges Representatives To Vote Against Decriminalized Prostitution, Darlene Pawlik, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
I am a juvenile sex trafficking survivor. I was sold here in New Hampshire and other states as well. This is happening now too. Even with a law against prostitution, the more egregious elements are prevalent. Trafficking is not separate from prostitution, it is just the darker side of the very same coin.
Sex Industry Advocates Aim To Decriminalize Prostitution In New Hampshire, Kelly Roy-Williams, Lisa Thompson, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Feb 2017
Sex Industry Advocates Aim To Decriminalize Prostitution In New Hampshire, Kelly Roy-Williams, Lisa Thompson, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
There is an organized effort in New Hampshire to fully decriminalize prostitution. What that means is that all laws controlling the buying and selling of sex will be removed from the law books, making prostitution legal. Law enforcement and public officials will then have no control over if, when, and where prostitution occurs, whether it’s in massage parlors (often called spas), hotels, apartments, residences, or strip clubs. Because commercial sex will be legal, pimps and “sex workers” will be able to freely advertise prostitution services. Pimps will be able to openly recruit women and girls into prostitution, without fear of …
Dignity, Vol 1, Issue 1, 2016, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Nov 2016
Dignity, Vol 1, Issue 1, 2016, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
Table of Contents, Volume 1, Issue 1, 2016, Dignity: A Journal on Sexual Exploitation and Violence.
Analysis Of Cases Of Human Trafficking In Rhode Island, 2009-2013, Faith Skodmin, Rachel Dunham, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Mar 2016
Analysis Of Cases Of Human Trafficking In Rhode Island, 2009-2013, Faith Skodmin, Rachel Dunham, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
This article is an analysis of law enforcement identified cases of human trafficking in Rhode Island from 2009 to 2013. Information was collected from police and court records, prosecutors’ press releases, and reports in the media. During this period, there was one case of forced labor of a domestic worker and six cases of domestic sex trafficking. Many of the characteristics of the Rhode Island cases were consistent with other human trafficking cases in the United States. Discussions of key findings include (a) outcomes of a criminal case using a new human trafficking statute on fraud in foreign contracting and …
Federal Hill Protest Targets Landlords, Donna M. Hughes Dr., Melanie Shapiro Esq
Mar 2010
Federal Hill Protest Targets Landlords, Donna M. Hughes Dr., Melanie Shapiro Esq
Donna M. Hughes
Landlords who rent space to spa-brothels were the target of a protest on Atwells Avenue on Federal Hill in Providence on the evening of March 28th. About two dozen neighbors, friends, and anti-trafficking activists gathered to condemn landlords who rent to spa-brothels.
Men Still Visiting Brothels, Melanie Shapiro Esq, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Mar 2010
Men Still Visiting Brothels, Melanie Shapiro Esq, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
Wednesday night, I gave a talk at Brown University, as part of the Human Trafficking Awareness Week. After the talk, I stopped for a coffee on Atwells Avenue on the way home. One Spa, an illegal spa-brothel, is next door to the coffee shop and just above the office of the Federal Hill Gazette. From the time I got out of my car and returned with my coffee, I saw three men go into the brothel—one white man in his late thirties dressed in carpenter pants, a flannel shirt, and baseball cap, one older balding white man with glasses, …
The Citizens Were Heard, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Oct 2009
The Citizens Were Heard, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
Congratulations to the citizens of Rhode Island and national anti-trafficking advocates for the legislative victory in Rhode Island. This past week, the Rhode Island Assembly passed an unprecedented pieces of legislation that will protect victims from sex industry predators and give law enforcement the tools they need to arrest pimps, traffickers, and “johns.”
Victory In Rhode Island, Donna M. Hughes Dr., Michael Horowitz
Oct 2009
Victory In Rhode Island, Donna M. Hughes Dr., Michael Horowitz
Donna M. Hughes
In stunning culmination of a David-Goliath struggle that, at least until lately, few believed the David side had the slightest chance of winning, the Rhode Island legislature enacted three major anti-trafficking bills last night that the Governor will soon sign into law.
Testimony On Prostitution Bill, Senate Judiciary Committee, Oct 2009, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Oct 2009
Testimony On Prostitution Bill, Senate Judiciary Committee, Oct 2009, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
I am here to support a bill that will give Rhode Island the prostitution law it needs to combat the growing sex industry and sex trafficking.
Many letters and reports have been written describing the problems that decriminalized prostitution has created for Rhode Island. We know that women from foreign countries are here in the spa-brothels. We know that U.S teens are trafficked here from other states. We know there is much evidence of sex trafficking in the Asian spa-brothels and strip clubs.
Prostitution Destroys Families, Anonymous In Providence, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Sep 2009
Prostitution Destroys Families, Anonymous In Providence, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
The bill against indoor prostitution should be passed. [Prostitution] destroys many families. What happens when a wife catches her husband going to spa or strip clubs? Divorce usually, and then the children involved go to counseling and so does the wife. Medical costs rise, not including STD’s the men catch from these women. To worry about what jobs they’ll get if they can’t do sex acts, well dancing for men is one thing, having sex with them is [another]. If [prostitution] is no longer allowed, the club owners should pay the fines if they cannot control what happens in their clubs.
Life Is Precious, Donna L. Landry, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Sep 2009
Life Is Precious, Donna L. Landry, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
Human Trafficking is Slavery in our lifetime. Many women and children are deceived, coerced, or forced into a life of bondage and exploitation
Behavior And Attitudes Of Johns, Melanie Shapiro Esq, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Sep 2009
Behavior And Attitudes Of Johns, Melanie Shapiro Esq, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
No abstract provided.
Levesque Misrepresents View Of Laura Lederer, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Sep 2009
Levesque Misrepresents View Of Laura Lederer, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
Last week (September 4, 2009), Senator Charles Levesque (D-Portsmouth and Bristol) sent an email that misrepresented the view of Laura Lederer on the need for a prostitution law in Rhode Island. His email is reproduced in full below. Senator Levesque’s letter was printed in the Providence Journal (September 9, 2009) under the title “Anti-prostitution law means more deaths.”
Senators' Prostitution Bill Is A Sham, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Sep 2009
Senators' Prostitution Bill Is A Sham, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
RHODE ISLAND needs a good prostitution law to halt the metastasizing problems of prostitution and sex trafficking. The growing number of spas and clubs are sordid destinations for foreign women and teens from around the Northeast. To address this problem, both the House and the Senate have passed bills they claim “close the loophole.” But the competing bills are profoundly different in their probable effectiveness.
Protect Our Children, Jenny Meyen, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Aug 2009
Protect Our Children, Jenny Meyen, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
There is something very disturbing about a business that advertises they are for “men and children” and evidence exists that this business has sexual acts occurring in the same building. That business is Gateway Barber and they advertise that they do haircuts, but that is not the only thing they do. According to the internet they are known as Salon 657 and described as offering erotic services. Gateway Barber is located on West Main Road in between two family restaurants. By all appearances one would assume that this is a “family business”.
Prostitution At The Strip Clubs In Providence, Melanie Shapiro Esq, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Jul 2009
Prostitution At The Strip Clubs In Providence, Melanie Shapiro Esq, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
Ruth moved to Providence six years ago when she was 18. Young and on her own, she was swept up by a rough crowd of guys who dealt and used crack and cocaine. Hanging around the strip clubs with them until early in the morning was “the thing to do when you were bored.” After hours, her friends would sell cocaine to the women working at the clubs.
They visited Club Fantasies, Club Desire, Satin Doll Gentlemen’s Club, Cheater’s, the Sportsman’s Inn and Club Balloons. Over a period of several years, Ruth “hung out” at the strip clubs. She talked …
Asian Woman Fled Middletown Brothel Last Year, Melanie Shapiro Esq, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Jul 2009
Asian Woman Fled Middletown Brothel Last Year, Melanie Shapiro Esq, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
A business owner has told Citizens Against Trafficking that late last year, an Asian women fled a spa-brothel nearby and came to their shop to ask for assistance.
Analysis Of The Arrest Of A Pimp And The Identification Of A Victim, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Jul 2009
Analysis Of The Arrest Of A Pimp And The Identification Of A Victim, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
An illustration from Cambridge, Massachusetts, on why Rhode Island needs a prostitution law to assist victims of pimps and traffickers
Rhode Island's Carnival Of Prostitution, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Jun 2009
Rhode Island's Carnival Of Prostitution, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
AFTER MY EXPERIENCE at the Senate Judiciary Committee last Thursday, I believe Rhode Island is headed for a human rights disaster and nationwide political embarrassment. It is becoming apparent that the Senate is not going to pass a much-needed prostitution bill. Rhode Island will continue to have an expanding number of spa-brothels, prostitution of minors in clubs, and no law that will enable the police to stop it.
Action Alert For Senate: Comments On Human Trafficking Bills, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Jun 2009
Action Alert For Senate: Comments On Human Trafficking Bills, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
Rhode Island Senate President Paiva-Weed has said that she is “confident that we will address the issue of prostitution and human trafficking” this session (, Sunday, June 21, 2009, p A6). The votes in the Senate are crucial to Rhode Island getting a prostitution law and improving our trafficking law! There are competing bills, so it can get confusing. Remember, there are two versions of the prostitution bill (a House and Senate version) and two versions of the trafficking bill (a House and Senate version).
Governor Carcieri Calls For Passage Of Prostitution Bill, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Jun 2009
Governor Carcieri Calls For Passage Of Prostitution Bill, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
On Thursday (June 18, 2009), Governor Carcieri held a press conference to support Gianinni’s prostitution bill (H 5044A) and her House trafficking bill (H 5661A). Giannini’s bill will create laws against prostitution to “close the loophole” as it is often referred to. Joining the governor were Representative Joanne Giannini, the sponsor of the bills, Stacey Pires Veroni, Assistant Attorney General, Col. Doherty, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, Representative Roberto DaSilva, and Donna M. Hughes, Professor at the University of Rhode Island.
Review Of Happy Endings, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
May 2009
Review Of Happy Endings, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
Tara Hurley, the filmmaker, has testified before the RI House Judiciary Committee and said on talk shows that based on observations making the film, there is no sex trafficking in Rhode Island. This is the view that is conveyed by “Happy Endings?” There are serious omissions of information about the people in the film and political biases that the filmmaker does not acknowledge.
Rhode Island Take Back The Night, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Sep 2005
Rhode Island Take Back The Night, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
It is an honor for me to be here for the 27th Annual Take Back the Night March. Women uniting to take back the night in marches have symbolized women’s resistance to sexual violence and their declaration of freedom and dignity for decades. “Speaking out” against violence is the way we break the conspiracies of silence that the perpetrators try to impose on us.
Hiding In Plain Sight: A Practical Guide To Identifying Victims Of Trafficking In The United States, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Dec 2002
Hiding In Plain Sight: A Practical Guide To Identifying Victims Of Trafficking In The United States, Donna M. Hughes Dr.
Donna M. Hughes
This practical guide focuses on identifying victims of sexual trafficking, meaning they have been
trafficked for commercial sex acts, such as prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation, such as
stripping, lap dancing, or production of pornography. Although there are commonalities between
victims of sexual and labor trafficking, there are sufficient differences to require separate focus.
Therefore, this guide does not describe ways to identify victims who have been trafficked for forced
labor, such as domestic servants and sweat shop or migrant farm workers.
