Every year nearly one million people- most of them women and children- are exploited, sold, tricked, or forced into deplorable situations from which they have little hope of escape. Factors such as poverty, lack of education and gender stereotypes coupled with a highly organized network of traffickers contribute to increased trafficking in persons (TIP) and commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) in the Americas. Partners of the Americas has committed to combating this escalating crisis through a series of programs designed to reduce the incidence of TIP and CSE. Through a combination of financial assistance, technical assistance, and training these programs also helped improve social and psychological services to victims of trafficking as they recovered from the traumas of victimization and began healthy and productive lives.

• The PAIR program combated commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking by bringing together federal agencies, local governments, businesses and nonprofits to identify crimes and provide services to victims.
  
  
• The Direct Assistance to Victims of Trafficking, Sexual Exploitation, helped to reduce the incidence of TIP and CSE in Brazil through prevention and services to victims, from shelter services to counseling.
  
  
• Although primarily focused on helping to reduce other forms of child labor in Brazil, Partners’ EDUCAR program also aided in the fight against commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking.
  
  
• Partners also offered technical support to Chemonics International, which is part of a consortium of organizations working with USAID to combat TIP and CSE.