An Update on Legislation and How You Can Help

In January, our team spent time at the Texas Capitol advocating for legislative changes that directly affect the youth we serve. Did you know that children as young as 13 can be charged with prostitution here in Texas? This is a law that Traffick911 is specifically advocating to be amended to protect children, not charge them with a crime committed against them. Day after day, we walk alongside survivors who are criminalized for parts of their victimization. It gets nuanced and challenging to explain why this happens, and we hope to continue to educate you on these complexities.

In the area of anti-sex trafficking law and policy, over the years, laws that protect child trafficking victims have come to be known as “Safe Harbor” laws. This is a term you may want to become familiar with. Current Safe Harbor laws are designed to reduce the criminalization of child and youth sex trafficking victims. However, some Safe Harbor laws may still direct children to the juvenile justice system, adding to their trauma and creating more barriers to healing.

In addition to the criminalization of trafficked children, there have been dozens, and dozens of new laws filed to protect human trafficking victims in Texas in this legislative session (which ends on May 29). 

We know this can be a lot of information to take in - here are some next steps you can take:

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