Proposition 133 Faces Widespread Opposition as Human Trafficking Survivors and Experts Warn of Dangers to Victims
The Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault leads the broad coalition speaking out against the misleading ballot measure that would put victims at risk of life in prison
DENVER, Colorado – A broad coalition of human trafficking survivors, victim service providers, and community organizations want Colorado voters to understand the dangers victims face if Proposition 133 (Penalties for Human Trafficking of a Minor) passes. The Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) is organizing a rapidly growing community of voices to warn the public about the dark-money-backed ballot measure, which would put human trafficking victims at risk of life in prison and give traffickers another tool to exploit them.
CCASA’s more than 100 members include human trafficking experts and advocacy programs, survivors, local sexual assault prevention and response programs, victim advocates, victim service organizations, health providers, and more. In addition to CCASA’s membership and a growing list of elected leaders, the following organizations have teamed up with CCASA to warn voters about the dangers of Proposition 133 ahead of Election Day on November 3, 2026:
- 4 The Children
- ACLU of Colorado
- Caring for Colorado Foundation
- Cobalt
- Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) Action Fund
- Colorado Children’s Alliance
- Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA)
- Family Tree
- Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking
- Lotus Foundation
- Project PAVE
- Project Safeguard
- Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN)
- Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center (RMvlc)
- Rose Andom Center
- Survivor Justice Network
- Sweetgrass Advocacy
- Violence Free Colorado
- Women’s Foundation of Colorado
“The rapidly growing number of human trafficking survivors, victim service leaders, and community organizations speaking out against Proposition 133 underscores how dangerous this misleading ballot measure is for victims,” said Onnastasia Cole, CCASA’s Policy and Outreach Manager. “Rather than stopping child sex trafficking, Proposition 133 would punish victims who were methodically targeted, groomed, and sexually exploited as harshly as their traffickers for crimes their traffickers forced or coerced them to commit. This would make it even more difficult for victims to seek help.”
In recent days, CCASA and the growing coalition of survivors and community organizations sounding the alarm about the measure were grateful to see that editorial boards for The Denver Post and The Durango Herald, as well as The Denver Gazette’s columnists Tom Cronin and Bob Loevy, endorsed a “No” vote on Proposition 133. Beyond the coalition led by CCASA, several other community organizations have publicly opposed Proposition 133, including Citizens Project, Colorado AFL-CIO, Colorado Fiscal Institute, Colorado Working Families Party, League of Women Voters Colorado, New Era Colorado, and more.
“Proposition 133’s proponents falsely claim that it would protect children, but in reality, this measure would make it even harder for victims to seek help and access the safety, healing, and justice they deserve,” Cole continued. “With midterm election voting underway, we urge Colorado voters to listen to the trafficking victims and advocates who are risking their personal safety to speak out against Proposition 133. ”
Proposition 133 was not brought forward by an organization that is led by, serves, or otherwise advocates for victims of human trafficking. In fact, Proposition 133’s proponents, Protect Kids Colorado, did not invite any of the many organizations that have been working for years to strengthen and improve Colorado’s response to human trafficking (e.g., House Bill 24-1345, Senate Bill 24-035, House Bill 25-1168, Senate Bill 26-015, Senate Bill 26-095) to the table.
Protect Kids Colorado is also advancing Propositions 134 and 135, which target transgender students and gender-affirming care. The campaign’s own materials promote all three measures as part of a shared agenda.
In addition to serious concerns about how Proposition 133 would harm victims, CCASA and allies have also noted that the measure is unnecessary; Colorado already has some of the longest human trafficking prison sentences in the country (up to more than 400 years), with current penalties ranging from eight to 48 years in prison per offense followed by mandatory parole. Further, Colorado updated penalties for trafficking-related crimes this year with the passage of Senate Bill 26-015, which went into effect on July 1, 2026.
“At CCASA, we know the most effective policies are built with the expertise and buy-in of survivors, victim advocates, law enforcement officers, district attorneys, and other key stakeholders,” Cole said. “Without survivors’ insight and expertise at the center, even policies designed with the best intentions can cause irreparable trauma and harm. Proposition 133 would harm victims. Period.”
Individuals and organizations interested in educating voters on the dangers of Proposition 133 may email policy@ccasa.org or fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/S3aErBtFmvdUwnvA9.
For media questions and interview requests, please contact lauren@ccasa.org. Additionally, CCASA may be able to coordinate interviews with survivors of human trafficking with their consent and if their capacity allows.
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The Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) is Colorado’s leading voice for sexual violence survivors and the professionals who serve them. Since its founding in 1984, CCASA has led groundbreaking state policy change and is Colorado’s only statewide organization exclusively committed to changing laws, challenging how institutions prevent and respond to sexual violence, and giving survivors more empowered options for justice and healing. Learn more at ccasa.org.