CATW was the first international non-governmental organization (NGO) working against trafficking and gained consultative status with ECOSOC (UN) in 1989.
CATWs definition of trafficking is understood as all forms of selling or buying bodies of women or children. CATW opposes a distinction between forced and voluntary prostitution as they see all forms of prostitution (and pornography) as a violation of the dignity of women and as violence against women. In this regard, they are strongly opposed to the perspective of the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women.