Policy

Amara is dedicated to advocating for policy changes in Washington, D.C. that protect the rights of our clients. We collaborate with members of the D.C. Council to draft language for new legislation, and we work to ensure that enacted legislation, such as D.C.’s new Safe Harbor law, is implemented correctly. Below are Amara’s current policy papers, which outline Amara’s recommendations for various policies affecting our clients in the D.C. metropolitan area.

Amara leads the Virginia Coalition Against Human Trafficking (VCAHT), an organization of service providers, attorneys, and survivors seeking to pass survivor-centered legislation in Virginia. We are focusing our efforts in passing criminal record relief laws for survivors of trafficking in the form of expungement and vacatur. This January, we had a legislative day in Richmond where we spoke with 13 legislators and their assistants on the importance of criminal record relief for survivors. Visit us at www.vcaht.org for more information on how you can support this effort

• 2020 OVSJG Budget Testimony
• 2020 OVSJG Oversight Testimony
• Vacatur Statutes for Survivors of Sex Trafficking
• Strategies for Reduction of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Minors in DC
• Use of the Word “Trafficking” in the Provision of Direct Services to Clients
• Issue Brief: Reducing Criminalization to Improve Community Health & Safety Amendment Act of 2017 (published October, 28, 2017)