Schuyler County proclaims January 2021 as National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month.

The Schuyler County Legislature has passed a resolution to raise awareness of, and opposition to, human trafficking and modern slavery.

The resolution, submitted to the legislature by the office of County Attorney Steven Getman, designates January 2021 as National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month, “to acknowledge the vital role that the people of the United States have in ending human trafficking and modern slavery, culminating in the observance on February 1, 2021, of National Freedom Day.”  It was passed  by the county legislature at its regular monthly meeting on Monday (December 14).

Human trafficking is a crime in which force, fraud or coercion is used to compel a person to perform labor, services or commercial sex, Getman explained. It affects all populations and all economic classes, including both adults and children.

According to the resolution, human trafficking and modern slavery have been reported and investigated in each of the fifty states.   It calls for “continued partnerships with Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as social service providers and nonprofit organizations to address human trafficking with a collaborative, victim-centered approach; and all other efforts to prevent, eradicate, and raise awareness of, and opposition to, human trafficking and modern slavery.”

According to Getman, the recognition period for National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month is because January 1 is the anniversary of the effective date of the Emancipation Proclamation and February 1, “National Freedom Day,” is the anniversary of the date on which President Lincoln sent the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which outlawed slavery, to the states for ratification.  The month was first federally recognized in 2010.

Getman noted that citizens who suspect an act of human trafficking in their area, can report a tip to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. This national, toll free hotline is available to answer calls from anywhere in the country.

A copy of Schuyler County’s resolution is available below.

Resolution Supporting the r... by Steven Getman

New protections for crime victims appear "Women's Equality" bills.

On Oct. 21, New York enacted new laws related to women's rights that deal with a variety of issues, including pay equity and protection of employees from sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination.

Among the new rules, designed to protect crime victims, including victims of sex trafficking, are the following:

The Family Court Act has been amended to allow the Chief Administrator of the Courts to promulgate rules to “establish and implement a pilot program for the filing of petitions for temporary orders of protection by electronic means and for the issuance of such orders ex parte by audio-visual means in order to accommodate litigants for whom attendance at court to file for, and obtain, emergency relief would constitute an undue hardship or to accommodate litigants, for whom traveling to and appearing in the courthouse to obtain emergency relief, creates a risk of harm to such litigant.”

The "Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act," amends and adds many new sections of law. New crimes include aggravated labor trafficking, a class C felony; patronizing a person for prostitution in a school zone, a class E felony; and aggravated patronizing a minor for prostitution, a felony.

These new provisions become effective in 2016.