Syracuse Sun

Human trafficking is a deeply disturbing issue that occurs in every part of the country, including New York. Anyone can be a victim of human trafficking. It is a pervasive issue that affects many. Every person has the right to dignity and freedom; this abuse and violation of basic human rights must be stopped.

Earlier this week, colleagues in the Assembly Minority Conference hosted the first of several forums addressing the devastating impact human trafficking has on women, children, and others. The first two events, one at Stony Brook University and another at Nassau Community College, were successful. The feedback from law enforcement, community leaders, victims’ advocates, and other stakeholders was eye-opening. With their insights, the Task Force on Human Trafficking will be able to better craft targeted legislation to help victims and stop perpetrators of these crimes.

One of the greatest challenges in thwarting human trafficking and exploitation is its elusive nature. Victims are often difficult to identify and locate, and in many instances, human trafficking takes place in near-total anonymity. For example, the New York State Interagency Task Force reported 295 confirmed cases, yet the National Human Trafficking Hotline reported more than 400 cases involving a suspected 639 victims in New York in 2021. According to the data, many of these victims were subject to sex trafficking.

One common myth about trafficking is that it most often involves kidnapping. While that can be the case, according to the Human Trafficking Hotline, kidnappers often use psychological means such as manipulation and threats to exploit their victims. The victims of sex trafficking face particularly harrowing trauma as they often find themselves abused with little hope of escape. For these reasons, the work of this task force is critical; we hope to develop ways to better identify where instances of human trafficking take place and what can be done to root it out in New York.

Task force meetings and roundtable discussions will take place across the state. While any region is susceptible to human trafficking—just days ago police arrested two individuals involved in a suspected ring in Baldwinsville—high-density locations like New York City require particular attention. Experts' guidance will help make New York safer for everyone, especially those vulnerable to human trafficking.