FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition
Email: Sheri@pearlatthemailbox.org
Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition Urges Survivor Voices Be Included in Courtroom Proceedings After Split Verdict in Sean “Diddy” Combs Case.
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Phoenix, Arizona – July 2, 2025
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The Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition (AHTSC) expresses deep concern over the recent split verdict in the federal trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. While Mr. Combs was found guilty on two counts of transportation for prostitution, the jury acquitted him on the more serious sex trafficking charges involving force, fraud, or coercion.
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Testifying in court is extremely difficult for trafficking victims, especially in high-profile cases where their words, actions, and even emotions are harshly judged and often misunderstood. When victims are not heard or believed, it sends a harmful message to others still trapped in trafficking that remaining silent is safer. This silencing effect is why it is critical to include lived-experts—survivors with direct experience—in the courtroom process.
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Survivors often exhibit behaviors that are wrongly interpreted as consent by those unfamiliar with the realities of trafficking. Victims may return to traffickers, appear calm during abuse, or minimize their own victimization, none of which indicate free choice. These are survival strategies, shaped by force, fraud, or coercion. When courts fail to understand this, it leads to dangerous misjudgments and unjust outcomes.
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The Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition urges courts to:
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Engage lived experts early and consistently in trafficking cases.
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Recognize that survivor testimony is essential to accurately interpreting victim behavior.
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Require trauma-informed training for judges, juries, and prosecutors, led by survivors who can explain the real-world dynamics of coercion and control.
Survivor voices are critical to achieving real justice.
“For interviews, speaking opportunities with survivors of the Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition, or policy collaboration, don't hesitate to get in touch with the Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition at 602-321-0074
About the Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition
The Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition (AHTSC) is a survivor-led and survivor-driven organization. We fight to ensure that those with lived experience are not only heard but also lead the conversations that shape laws, courtrooms, and public understanding. The Coalition challenges harmful myths about coercion, consent, and victim behavior, pushing for legislative change, courtroom inclusion, and survivor-centered education. We are committed to dismantling misinformation, holding perpetrators accountable, and building a system where survivor voices are at the forefront of every decision in the fight to end human trafficking.