Aerial of the public square in Richmond Virginia with the Washington Monument and Capitol Building and Old City Hall behind the Capitol.
Every year Shared Hope International publishes state report cards grading all 50 states on laws focused on ending the criminalization of trafficking survivors, historically focused on “safe harbor” laws or the non-criminalization of minors. Virginia, yet again, has received a failing grade from Shared Hope International in their 2025 Just Like Me publication of state report cards.
Shared Hope International is leading a worldwide effort to eradicate sex trafficking through prevention, restoration, and justice. The Just Like Me Report Cards grades U.S. states based on a Top Ten list of policy goals aimed at ending the unjust criminalization of trafficking survivors and addressing its lasting impacts.
Virginia’s grades are based solely on an analysis of law. While policies, practices, and other non-legislative efforts play a vital role in addressing child and youth sex trafficking, the protections examined under the Just Like Me Report Cards must be written into law to ensure they are enforceable, equitable, consistent, and enduring.
The Report Card is a part of a greater tool kit and is accompanied by a legal analysis and advocacy resources. The Just Like Me toolkit is a call to action, and with a failing grade, Virginia only has progress to make.
The Virginia Coalition Against Human Trafficking (VCAHT) is an alliance of service providers, attorneys, survivor-advocates, and community members on a mission to remove barriers preventing survivors from achieving a full and healthy life through public awareness campaigns, policy reform and enacting survivor-centered human trafficking legislation.
For the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session, VCAHT is prioritizing three (3) main proposals: 1) forfeiture constitutional amendment, 2) vacatur expansion, and 3) safe harbor (non-criminalization of minors) regional navigator bill. With various committees and working groups hard at work, Virginia needs legislators on board to get these passed and to raise our report card grade!
Contact your legislator and express your concern with Virginia’s failing grade. Not sure who your Virginia legislator is? Follow this link to find out.
