About Us
Who We Are
We are a group of survivor activists from around the world working on building power from the ground up to create a sustainable movement. While it “takes all”, we are best positioned to mobilize others by creating survivor led networks, developing and sharing expertise, educating the public and advocating for policy change based on our first-hand experiences.
There is also a new urgency for change as economic and gender inequality deepens it will continue to render our most vulnerable populations into the sex trade. Economic distress, discriminatory social systems worsen the risks faced by marginalized populations, making them more vulnerable to sexual exploitation.
We are growing our members to include the voices of survivors everywhere, including survivors of diverse languages to allow for more equitable participation. We strive to be a learning community for survivors, supporting each other, creating a culture of healing, recognizing the trauma and harm that we have endured in our lives.
All members are outspoken public abolitionists, many of us have worked and even created exit programs in our jurisdictions. All of us have been leading efforts and campaigns in our communities, working to change the narrative, laws and policies that perpetuate the sex trade.
The Origins of SPACE
SPACE was first formed in 2012 in Ireland by Rachel Moran for the purpose of changing social attitudes towards prostitution.
In 2013, the decision was taken to expand the group internationally and take on representatives from all corners of the globe.
Our Mission
Our mission is to elevate the voices and power of survivors in order to influence policies, programming and advocacy efforts to ultimately end systems of prostitution.
Our Vision
Our Vision is to create a more equitable world. Prostitution is a manifestation and cause of gender inequality and oppression. Complex paths have historically led women and girls into the prostitution/trafficking; inequality, poverty, discrimination, prior victimization and manipulation by others to name just a few. However, the role of men who buy sex are the real drivers of the sex trade that needs to end.
What We Do
Advocating for the Equality Model
The Equality Model (Nordic Model) decriminalizes prostituted people, holds sex buyers and exploiters accountable while closing “on ramps” into the sex trade and opens “off ramps” which is critical for those that need access to needed resources and viable options.