New York Anti-Trafficking Coalition

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 advocate for a strong New York State law to hold traffickers accountable and help victims rebuild their lives.

Why is the anti-trafficking law necessary?

1. Defines trafficking with reference to the typical kinds of fraud and coercion that traffickers commonly use on their victims, rather than the narrow doctrine of “imminent threat of force.”
2. Creates strong penalties for the traffickers-enough to provide meaningful deterrence to an enormously profitable criminal activity.
3. Addresses those who patronize the sex industry, as they create the demand that makes the industry so profitable and creates the motive for trafficking.
4. Clarifies existing law on sex tourism in order to stop the sex tour operators who conduct business in New York State, promoting sex tours that drive trafficking in poorer countries, where victims have no recourse against those who profit from their suffering.
5. Creates remedies for victims of trafficking, including a defense for trafficked individuals who are sometimes arrested for the very acts of prostitution that they are coerced to perform; allow victims to recover restitution and damages from traffickers.
6. Provides services to assist trafficking victims in rehabilitating their lives.

In 2007, the Anti- Human Trafficking law was passed this law states:

• Engaging in sex trafficking is a class B felony.
   
• Engaging in labor trafficking is a class D felony.
   
• Infractions are clearly defined to assure that District Attorney is able to bring felony charges against those involved in the business of “Prostitution Tourism.”
   
• Provides victims with services such as emergency temporary housing, drug addiction treatment, translation services, and job training. It requires law enforcement to coordinate with federal government in obtaining special visas allowing them to remain in the United States. 
   
• An interagency task force will aid in the training of law enforcement community, as well as evaluting the effectiveness of the Anti- Human Trafficking Law.

Advisory Council
Gloria Steinem, Chair
Honorable Catherine Abate
Helen Bernstein
Honorable Gale Brewer
Former Governor of New York Mario Cuomo
Abigail E. Disney
Honorable Betty Weinberg Ellerin
Eve Ensler
Linda Fairstein
Toby Graff
Natatia Griffith
Agnes Gund
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney
Georgette Mosbacher
Marcia Pappas
Rose Pierre-Louis
Deputy Mayor Carol Robles-Roman
Lynn Rollins
Marla Schaefer
Karenna Gore Schiff
Meryl Streep
Scott M. Stringer