Abstract: In response to the overwhelming amount of attention to human trafficking, the
debates surrounding its definition, and its focus on the sex industry, the purpose of this
study was to understand the motivations behind the formation of the Trafficking in
Victims Protection Act (TVPA). Using the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) as a
model, data was collected and analyzed in order to examine the coalition identities of key
players and their positions. Through the presentation of in-depth interview data with key
policy players involved in the making of the TVPA, this article illustrates how and why
the TVPA was formulated, the implications of its development, and the necessity for
critical analysis of its effects. The use of alternative frameworks of labor and migration
for understanding trafficking is proposed. Further consideration is given to legislative
changes to eliminate anti-prostitution ideology and to support anti-oppressive
approaches to addressing forced or deceptive working conditions.