This approach involves efforts to educate people about prostitution and sex trafficking, and encouraging them not to contribute to sexual exploitation by purchasing sex, or by tolerating or supporting this behavior in others. Some of the education efforts are broadcast widely, while others more narrowly target known adult sex buyers, or minors in an effort to prevent them from becoming adults who buy sex.  More than 210 cities and counties in the U.S. have launched some form of public education effort focused specifically on reducing demand for commercial sex.

• Locate cities and counties that have used this tactic

To learn more about this intervention, access the resources provided below.

Public Service Announcements

• Atlanta’s “Dear John” Campaign
  • News Reports
    • Mayor: Website enables child sex (2007) (PDF, 7 MB)
  • Video (2005-2008)
    • YouTube: Dear John Campaign :: John
    • YouTube: Dear John Campaign :: Mayor Shirley Franklin
    • YouTube: Dear John Campaign :: Girl
  • Print Images (2005-2008)
    • The Juvenile Justice Fund asked for help.
  • Research Articles:
    • Sending a Dear John Letter: Public Information Campaigns and the Movement to “End Demand” for Prostitution in Atlanta, GA (2017) (PDF, 6 MB)
• Miami’s “Dear John” Campaign
  • News Reports
    • ‘Dear John’ campaign aims to protect kids (JPG, 769 KB)
    • “Dear John” Campaign to Launch Against the Trafficking and Prostitution of Children

Online Ads to Deter Sex Buyers

• Howard County, MD

Websites for Public Education and Sex Buyer Deterrence:

• “Arizona Buyer Beware“

U.S. Department of Defense TIP Training

• Trafficking in Persons: U.S. Department of Defense Awareness Initiative (PPT, 1,954.8 KB)

Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE) Toolkits for Training and Education

• Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE) Toolkits for Training and Education (2010) (PDF, 16 MB)

Survivors Healing, Advising and Dedicated to Empowerment (SHADE Movement)

• Survivors Healing, Advising and Dedicated to Empowerment (SHADE Movement)
• Survivors of human trafficking take the lead on teaching about “modern day slavery” (2018) (DOCX, 20 KB)

Veronica’s Voice “Stop Demand” Speaking Points

• Veronica’s Voice
• Veronica’s Voice “Stop Demand” Presentations – Speaking Points (PDF, 879.6 KB)

Indiana Attorney General’s Office

• “Don’t Buy the Lie: Human Trafficking, a Demand Problem” (2012) (PPT, 18 MB)
• “Not a John”: Wallet Size Card (PDF, 718 KB)

End Demand, Illinois

• End Demand, IL (EDI)

End Demand, New York City (NYC)

•  End Demand, NYC

Demand Abolition

• Demand Abolition
• Who Buys Sex? Understanding and Disrupting Illicit Market Demand (2018) (PDF, 4 MB)

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