Assembly Minority Task Force on Human Trafficking Co-Chairs Assemblyman Brian Maher (R,C-Walden) and Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C-Ballston) and Western NY regional host Assemblyman David DiPietro (R,C-East Aurora) brought experts and officials to discuss the impact of human trafficking in Western New York. Assemblyman Joseph M. Giglio (R,C-Gowanda) and Assemblyman Josh Jensen (R,C-Greece) were also in attendance.
Human trafficking cases are difficult to quantify as so many victims remain unknown. According to the 2022 Report from the New York State Interagency Task Force, which was only recently published this year, there were 249 confirmed cases, while the National Human Trafficking Hotline reported 467 cases of human trafficking involving 622 victims. Most of these victims were sex trafficked.
“Human trafficking is a crime with so many silent victims who are lost with little hope. For the hundreds who are identified in our state annually, how many more remain undiscovered? As a task force, we will explore, with the help of experts and stakeholders, what more New York can do to combat human trafficking and support survivors of these horrific crimes. The many perspectives shared around the state will help us develop legislation and policy recommendations to ensure more people are helped and do not fall victim to human trafficking,” said Maher, ranking Republican on the Committee on Social Services and sitting member of the Committees on Children and Families and Mental Health.
“Our Task Force on Human Trafficking is as much a fact-finding mission as it is to raise awareness within our communities that these crimes against vulnerable women and children exist right here in our state. Hearing from individuals from many disciplines working to help victims and prevent trafficking is going to give us a better understanding of the true problem at hand. No matter their walk in life, people deserve to be safe and free. I hope the legislation we develop will move New York state that much closer to a place where trafficking is brought to light so it cannot thrive in darkness,” said Walsh, who is a child advocate in her home county and sits on the committees on Education and Mental Health.
“Human trafficking is a hidden crisis that devastates lives, and the numbers we do see barely scratch the surface. We must do everything in our power to expose this evil and protect the vulnerable in our communities. The fact that hundreds of victims are being trafficked in our state is unacceptable, and we cannot sit idly by while this continues. We need action and accountability to end this horrific crime,” said DiPietro.
“Human trafficking is an insidious crime that we think happens elsewhere in the world, but right in our very own state there are victims suffering at the hands of traffickers and in many cases in silence and obscurity. New Yorkers must have the conversations like we had today so we can better equip law enforcement and prosecutors to hold criminals accountable and support the people doing the work of saving trafficking victims and helping them become thriving survivors,” said Giglio, who is the Ranking Republican on the Committee on Correction.
“Today, I had the privilege of attending a very important meeting hosted by the Assembly Minority Conference Task Force on Human Trafficking in an effort to collaborate on ideas to combat the atrocity of human trafficking in our state. This issue, which devastates the lives of many families, is a massive threat to the safety of the people in our communities as well as all across our state. This is why I commend the Task Force for their commitment to this cause and for taking action when this issue is at an all-time high. I will continue to support their work to make our communities a safer place to live,” said Jensen.
Among the stakeholders present were Town of Marilla Supervisor Earl Gingerich, Jr.; Erie County Undersheriff William J. Cooley; Captain Daniel T. Howard, New York State Police-Troop A; Julie Palmer, Executive Director of People Against Trafficking Humans; and other representatives from Community Action for Wyoming County; Crisis Services; Child and Family Services; Erie County Department of Social Services; the Special Victims and Domestic Violence Bureau; the Child Advocacy Center of Niagara; YWCA of the Niagara Frontier; the Child Advocacy Program; and Wyoming County Safe Harbour.
The task force thanks its venue partner, the Town of Marilla, for providing the space for this important discussion to occur. Previous meetings of the task force occurred in July in Suffolk and Nassau counties and in September in the Capital Region. Additional task force meetings are planned for Central New York on Oct. 11, the Hudson Valley on Oct. 15, New York City on Oct. 17 and upper Hudson Valley on Oct. 23.
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