Res 1385-2020

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, 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. LS #9887 02/25/2020 AR