Human trafficking is a crime you hear about more and more but no one expects to see here. Yet, 332 human trafficking cases were reported in New York in 2016, according to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. Since 2015, New York state has been ranked the fifth highest state in number of cases reported trailing only California, Texas, Florida and Ohio.
Human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children happens everywhere – to women, men, boys, girls and those who identify as LGBTQ. It happens to U.S. citizens as well as those that are foreign-born. It happens in large cities, small towns and even in our own community, our own neighborhood.
Trafficking does not require transportation from place to place or across a border. Trafficking does not have to include elements of physical restraint, physical force, or physical bondage. Most people who are trafficked will not immediately identify as victims and may never come forward.
Youth are recruited in schools, on social networking apps, at shopping centers, bus stations and even from foster care and group homes. Recently, there has been a shift from seeing trafficked children on street corners and truck stops to seeing them in internet advertisements, adding a new challenge in this fight.
Niagara County is not spared from this tragedy. The Safe Harbour Project, a service of the Child Advocacy Center of Niagara at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, is committed to protecting and assisting children who experience trafficking or commercial sexual exploitation. The project began in 2015 with funding from Office of Children and Family Services and with the partnership of Niagara County Department of Social Services. To date, the Safe Harbour Project has received over 89 referrals for youth from throughout Niagara county, providing intensive case management and support services.
In addition to directly serving young people, the Safe Harbour Project focuses on prevention.
In 2017, nearly 1,000 youths were provided information about red flags, vulnerabilities and ways to stay safe. Safe Harbour also provided Not A #Number training across Niagara County. Not A #Number is an interactive child trafficking and exploitation prevention curriculum from Love 146, an international human rights organization that works to end child trafficking and exploitation.
The positive response was unanimous. One youth stated, “Thank you for this program at our school, because without this program I wouldn’t have ever known about any of this.” Another said, “I liked that it is a different program (over 5 sessions). Some people will never get a program like this and I learned a lot.”
The Love146 Not A #Number program is just one of many programs the Safe Harbour Project offers free of charge.
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month is a time to recognize that we all can play an important role to help prevent child trafficking. It’s also a time to strengthen our resolve to give every child a safe and happy life.
You can make a difference:
- If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. Do not try to intervene in a potentially dangerous situation.
- Contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline to report a tip, request services or get help. Call 1-888-373-7888 or text “Help” to BeFree (233733).
- Know the signs. Invite a speaker on child trafficking and exploitation to come to your workplace, school, church, club or service organization.
- Promote Prevention. The Child Advocacy Center provides free education services including the nationally recognized Love146 Not A #Number prevention curriculum and the Stewards of Children program for adults. To arrange for a speaker for your group – large or small – call the Child Advocacy Center at (716) 285-0045.
- Find out what resources are available. Visit the Child Advocacy Center of Niagara’s website at cacofniagara.org to learn what services are available in Niagara County for child victims of trafficking and at-risk youth.
Stand up for children – in January and all year long.
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Megan Genson, Safe Harbour Project Coordinator at the Child Advocacy Center of Niagara, a service of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center
