Res. No. 373

Resolution calling upon the New York City Department of Education to require age-appropriate human trafficking curriculum and instruction for students in grades K-12.

By Council Member Louis

Whereas, Human trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation, selling or buying of people through use of force, fraud or coercion for various forms of exploitation, such as labor and sexual exploitation; and

Whereas, According the New York City (NYC) Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), in 2017, 2,996 youth across NYC were identified as either trafficked or at-risk for trafficking, a 21 percent increase from 2016; and

Whereas, More recent data, on the number of commercially sexually exploited children, as required by NYC Local Law 41 of 2016, reveals that in 2020, ACS, the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and the Safe Harbour providers served a total of 988 youth referred as, self-reported as, or determined to be sexually exploited, or at-risk for sexual exploitation; and

Whereas, It should be noted that the overall number of youths identified as “trafficked or at-risk for trafficking” decreased by 1,183 youth between 2019 (2,171 youth identified) and 2020 (988 youth identified), likely due to COVID-19 concerns and safety restrictions; and

Whereas, According to ACS, young people in the foster care and juvenile justice systems, as well as homeless and runaway, immigrant, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and other marginalized youth are particularly vulnerable to exploitation; and

Whereas, ACS has implemented several supportive programs and services for youth who have come in contact with ACS, teachers, City agency staff and provider agencies that are designed to help prevent child trafficking, help at-risk youth protect themselves and help survivors find permanent safety; and

Whereas, In September 2019, the Florida State Board of Education required education in child trafficking prevention for students in grades K-12, becoming the first state in the country to address the need for instruction in child trafficking prevention; and

Whereas, NYC is the largest school district in the United States and school-wide human trafficking curriculum for students could ensure that as many youth as possible in the city have the tools to help prevent human trafficking and enhance their safety; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York City Department of Education to require age-appropriate human trafficking curriculum and instruction for students in grades K-12.

Session 12

JA

LS #7810

3/16/22; 5:30 p.m.

Session 11

AR

LS #9887

Res. #1385-2020