New York Anti-Trafficking Coalition

Mission Statement  

Human trafficking  is a devastating human rights abuse that occurs all over the world, including here in New York State. New York is widely acknowledged to be a leading entry, transit and destination point for trafficking victims. The New York State Anti-Trafficking Coalition is a group of organizations that have joined forces to educate New Yorkers about the reality and pervasiveness of human trafficking.  In 2007, the New York Anti-Trafficking Commission drove the passge of the first Anti-Human Trafficking Law in New York state. The Coaltion is dedicated to increasing public awareness, ensuring the implementation of the anti-traffcking law, and helping women and girls escape trafficking. The New York Anti-Trafficking Coalition has made New York state a leader in the global fight against human trafficking.

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Mean Streets: NY Teens Caught in the Sex Trade

On April 28th, over 150 people joined us at the LGBT Center for a documentary screening and community forum on changing laws, policies and attitudes about teen sexual exploitation. Advertised in places like Craigslist, sex with children is a thriving part of the NYC sex trade. Every year, kids as young as 12 are sexually exploited by pimps and johns, and they face a system ill-equipped to provide the services needed to help them reclaim their young lives. This disproportionately affects African-American girls, as well as gay and transgender youth. 

The documentary, “Teen Prostitution; Sex Workers or Victims?” was produced by National Geographic and is part of the Oxygen network’s “Who Cares About Girls” documentary series.  Speakers on the panel included Patti Binder, Deputy Director of Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS), Lori B. Iskowitz, Senior Trial Counsel, Asistant Deputy Borough Chief in the Family Court Division of the NYC Law Department, Jo Rees, Deputy Executive Director of Friends of Island Academy, and Lise Zumwalt, Producer of the film. The discussion was by moderated by NOW-NYC President, Sonia Ossorio. This event was sponsored by NOW-NYC.
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Hey HBO: Pimping Women Has Got to Go!

Thanks to all the coalition members who joined CATW, NOW-NYC, ECPACT, and others to make this protest a success!  HBO has been normalizing the demand for prostitution which fuels human trafficking. The most recent example is “Cathouse” which distorts the reality of sex industry by transforming pimps into businessmen, and presenting the buying and selling of women as harmless and normal.  Our protest help spread the truth about prostitution and sex trafficking and how HBO is profiting and promoting the world’s oldest oppression. The event was held on April 24th in front of the HBO Corporate Offices. Thanks to CATW for organizing this protest.
 

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Support a “Safe Harbor” for Sexually Exploited Kids 

Services and shelter for underage girls caught in prostitution are sorely lacking.  Prosecutors, public defenders, judges, law enforcement and advocates are frustrated with the limited options available to help these exploited youth. Without options, these girls can end up in juvenile detention and Rikers (if at least 16 years old), feeling more like criminals than victims.  Better services are needed to ensure they are treated like victims and not criminals. Advocates and legislators in New York are working to change this by establishing the Safe Harbor Act. The law calls for exploited children to have an alternative to an arrest record and detention, by way of  specialized safe houses and services. Learn more and contact your state senator and assemblymember about this legislation.  

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Real Funding Needed for Anti-Human Trafficking Measure

The New York Anti-Trafficking Coalition helped pass the first-ever New York State Anti-Human Trafficking Law last June, which established penalties for traffickers and provided services for victims. Getting the law on the books was the first step, and the Division of Criminal Justice Services has launched training workshops for law enforcement, but the state needs to put real dollars behind the new law for improved services, investigations and statewide training for police, judges, DAs and social service agencies. Get in touch with your state senator and assemblymember and ask them to adequately fund the new law in next year’s budget. Ensure that our leaders keep their promise to fight human trafficking.
Human Trafficking in the News

Pimp first to face Spitzer’s law (Daily News, June 18th, 2008)
A Task for Senator Obama (New York Times, June 16th, 2008)
When sex is a business, you can’t forget about demand (Huffington Post, March 25, 2008)
State must protect sex-trade victims (Albany Times Union, March 24th, 2008)
A Right to Not be Prostituted (Women’s E-News, March 19, 2008 )
The Myth of the Victimless Crime (New York Times, March 12, 2008)
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