New York, NY Recognizing Human Trafficking as a Crime

Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted on 11/15/06

Vote: Unanimous

Source File: http://www.nyccouncil.info/issues/intros_act.cfm?intro=Res%200504%2D2006

Text:

Res 0504-2006
Recognize that human trafficking is a crime and to pass legislation criminalizing human trafficking and providing services and programs to trafficking victims.

Whereas, Human trafficking is defined as the recruitment and transportation of persons within or across boundaries by force, fraud or deception, for the purpose of exploiting them economically; and

Whereas, Human trafficking is a heinous crime which violates the human rights of its victims; and

Whereas, According to numerous reports, victims of trafficking most commonly work in sweatshops, restaurants and on farms, as well as in manufacturing trades, sex trades and as private domestic workers; and

Whereas; According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS) and the United States State Department, 700,000 to 2 million people, the majority of whom are women and children, are trafficked each year across international borders; and

Whereas, The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) estimates that 18,000 to 20,000 people are trafficked into the United States each year and forced into labor or sex trades for little or no pay; and

Whereas, The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) estimates that human trafficking generates nearly $9.5 billion in annual revenue; and

Whereas, New York State’s ports, airports, rail stations and international borders all contribute to use of New York as a hub for trafficking, and as a result many of the victims live in the tri-state area; and

Whereas, While some of the conduct that traffickers engage in are addressed by penal law, there is currently no law that specifically makes human trafficking a crime in New York State; and

Whereas, In 2004, DOJ undertook a comprehensive Trafficking Task Force Initiative which included the drafting of a Model State Anti-Trafficking Statue, and the U.S. Senate subsequently passed a resolution endorsing this model statue and encouraging states to adopt it; and

Whereas, The model legislation seeks to expand anti-trafficking authority to states in order to harness the nearly one million state and local law enforcement officers who might come in contact with trafficking victims; and

Whereas, It is imperative that New York State address human trafficking in order to help prevent this terrible crime and alleviate the suffering of its victims; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the State of New York to recognize that human trafficking is a crime and to pass legislation criminalizing human trafficking and providing services and programs to trafficking victims.