Equality Now Inc.

“The IRS form 990 was distributed to each board member via email for review prior to its filing.”

“Board members are required to disclose any conflicts of interest annually. If any arise they are investigated further to determine what, if any, action should be taken.”

“www.guidestar.org”

“The audited financial statements are available upon request.”

“OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: Other ProgramsThe Organization works to advocate for the rights of women and girls at high level fora such as the United Nations, The World Bank, The Organization of American States, The African Union, The European Union and The League of Arab Nations. It is also the Secretariat for the Solidarity of African Womens Coalition, that works for the ratification and domestication of the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa Women across Africa OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 5: End Sex Trafficking:Trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation is one of the worlds fastest growing organized criminal enterprises. Failure to address this growing trend will leave millions of women and girls vulnerable to violence and abuse. Equality Now demands strong laws at all levels targeting both those who profit from the sex trade and those who are fueling it.Key progress in 2017:SHAPING THE GLOBAL NARRATIVE ON SEX TRAFFICKINGIn 2017, Equality Now and partners launched a campaign calling on the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to ensure sex trafficking was given equal attention by governments and UN agencies in the context of the review of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons (GPOA).Establishing a route forwardFollowing the campaign, the UNGA officially agreed on a way forward to end human trafficking and restated the importance of a focus on sex trafficking. This is an important step towards shutting down the $99 billion sex trafficking industry.STRONG LEGAL FRAMEWORKS TO COMBAT SEX TRAFFICKINGOver the last year we have developed strategies and campaigns to leverage legal frameworks to combat sex trafficking in the United States, Europe and Africa. This included scoping and partnership building for better informed and stronger collaboration.Fostering collaboration in AfricaA main area of intervention in 2017 was supporting partners in South Africa in advocating for an Equality Model Law. We helped Members of Parliament understand the impact of prostitution on women and girls and explored how the Equality Model Law could work for the country. Many MPs, including several men, told us that the event opened their eyes. They resolved to raise and discuss the issue with other men in legislative roles.We also held a West African convening in Accra, Ghana to discuss the causal elements and impact of sex trafficking. Representatives from nine West African countries attended as well as many local and international NGOs.Progress on prosecuting buyersOn 14 February 2017, Ireland passed the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2017. Sex buyers will now be penalized while those who are bought for sex will no longer be treated as criminals. The legislation also strengthens laws to combat child pornography, sexual harassment and the prevention of sexual grooming of children. Equality Nows contribution and support to partners in Ireland on this bill dates back to 2014.Stopping the sale of girls onlineSection 230 of the United States Communications Decency Act (CDA) was never intended to legally protect websites that facilitate sex trafficking. But it did. For years, internet companies such as Backpage.com have knowingly promoted and facilitated online sex trafficking, often of children.Despite several efforts to bring these internet companies to justice, Section 230 shielded the companies from criminal and civil liability. Equality Now is part of a coalition advocating for the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA.) If passed the bill will close the loophole in the CDA and ensure companies like Backpage.com are held accountable. The coalition coordinated 66 cosponsors for the bill and are pushing for a vote in early 2018.”