Coalition against Trafficking in Women
The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-International (CATW) is a non-governmental organization that promotes 
women’s human rights by working internationally to combat sexual exploitation in all its forms. Founded in 1988, CATW was the first international non-governmental organization to focus on Trafficking of Women , especially sex trafficking of women and girls.
Mission
- CATW is composed of regional networks and of affiliated individuals and groups. It serves as an umbrella that coordinates and takes direction from its regional organizations and networks in its work against sexual exploitation and in support of women’s human rights.
- CATW brings international attention to all forms of sexual exploitation, including prostitution, pornography, sex tourism, and mail order bride selling. Working with national and international policy makers, women’s rights and human rights advocates, and the United Nations, it promotes the fundamental human right of women and children, in particular, girls, to be free from sexual exploitation.
- CATW prevents trafficking by educating boys and girls in schools and communities in different parts of the world and by training teachers, professionals, police, governmental authorities and the public about the harm of sexual exploitation and ways to resist and combat it.
- CATW testifies before national congresses, parliaments, law reform commissions, regional and UN committees and commissions, and holds Category II Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Members serve as consultants to governmental commissions drafting new legislation on prostitution and sex trafficking, and against the sex industry.
- CATW researches and documents the situation of women who have been trafficked and are in prostitution; educates the public about the extent of harm sustained by women and girls in prostitution; and galvanizes change through legislation and working with governments and international agencies to create/change/amend policy and legislation that support the right of every woman and girls to be free of sexual exploitation; and helps create and support alternatives for women and girls who have been sexually exploited.
Coalitions
They have Coalitions in all the major world regions and have been successful in setting up a worldwide network against trafficking and prostitution in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. There are six secretariats and national coalitions in over 15 countries including the Gender Equality in the Gender Equality in the Philippines, Bangladesh , Indonesia , Thailand , Venezuela , Puerto Rico , Chile , Gender Equality in the Gender Equality in the Gender Equality in the United States of America of America of America, Canada , Norway , France and Greece .
Achievements
- The CATW has influenced anti-sex industry and anti-trafficking legislation in the the Philippines , Venezuela , Bangladesh , Japan , Sweden and the Gender Equality in the United States of America of America.
- The definition of trafficking, in the new UN Transnational Crime Convention’s Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children was launched and advocated by the Coalition. CATW organized the International Human Rights Network (IHRN), a coalition of more than 140 NGOs, to successfully advocate for a definition of trafficking that protects all victims, not just those who can prove that they were forced. Many of the measures to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and punish perpetrators were also initiated by CATW.
- CATW has produced major books, reports and videos on prostitution and trafficking as major human rights violations of women.