Mayor’s Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking Minutes

Wednesday, February 22, 2017                 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm            City Hall, Room 305

1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102

 

Attendees:

Karen Catalona, San Francisco District Attorney’s Office; Carly Devlin, Huckleberry Youth Services; Christy Dietrich, Dept. of Public Health; Abby Ellis, Senator Feinstein’s Office; Tony Flores, SFPD Special Victims Unit; Patrick Fosdahl, Department of Public Health; Alan Guttirez, LYRIC; Elise Hansell, Dept. on the Status of Women; Emily Hinsdale, Love Never Fails; Alia Whitney- Johnson, Freedom Fwd; Minouche Kandel, Dept. on the Status of Women; Sojeatta Khim; Dept. of Public Health; Antonia Lavine, SFCAHT; Christina Lee, DPH;  Rosalie Lopez, SFUSD;  Alix Lutnick, RTI; Levi Maxwell, Lyric; Maggie McHale, Dept. on the Status of Women; Elisabet Medina, San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center; ; Angie Miot- Nudel, Larkin Street; Emily Murase, Dept. on the Status of Women; Zaria Oliver, Lyric; Lisa Peckler, Dignity Health Foundation; Mirelle Raza, San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, Mel Siltanen, YWFC; Emily Sims, RTI; Sarai Smith-Mazariegos, SHADE; Dongmei Tan, Department of Public Health; Christine Ticas, District Attorney Victim Services

 

I.Introductions/ Check- In                                                                                                     

II.Minutes from December 14, 2016 meeting approved. [Tony Flores/Christy Dietrich]

III.Review of Strategic Planning Retreat

Minouche Kandel presented to the group on the results from the Strategic Planning Retreat.  At the retreat the members discussed the definition of human trafficking and came to an agreement on a combined definition of forced labor taking place in various industries that include domestic labor, agriculture, and commercial sex. The group also identified the goals and mission of the Task Force.  Members felt it important to include in the mission that the work of the Task Force should not further traumatize people (survivor, victim, client). The participants also stressed the importance of supporting San Francisco as a sanctuary city.  Members created an executive committee tasked with formalizing the structure of the work of the Task Force, creating membership criteria for voting members, and formalizing MOUs.

On the sign in sheet at this meeting, participants were asked to circle which committee they would like to be a part of. The committees are: Adult Trafficking committee, the Youth Trafficking committee, the Sex Work and Policy Impact Committee, the Data Workgroup, and the Survivor Advisory committee.  Minouche will also send along a survey monkey to facilitate signing up for these committees.

 

IV.Committee Reports                                                               

A. Youth Trafficking

Alia Whitney- Johnson is the new chair of the Youth Trafficking Committee. This committee has changed from the child sex trafficking committee to the youth trafficking committee. The name change is representative of the committee’s focus on both child and transitional aged youth as well as both sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Key themes identified at the Strategic Planning Retreat are gaps in services, housing, prevention education, and the importance of engaging survivor and youth voice. These goals came from mostly service sector members who work with youth.

B. Adult Trafficking

The Adult Trafficking Committee was given a significant number of tasks from the Strategic Planning Retreat.  These tasks are as follows:

1. Create a resource list.

2. Engage the hospitality and restaurant industry on the Stanford Online Human Trafficking Training.

3. Expand the Healthy Nail Salon Program.

4. Develop a regional shelter housing policy and program.

5.  Expand employment/ vocational services for survivors of trafficking.

6. Collaborate with regional efforts that align with the Task Force.

7. Leverage City purchasing to prioritize trafficking free supply chains.

8. Identify and involve additional stakeholders.

9. Record expungements for persons who are trafficked.

C. Sex Work and Trafficking Policy Impact

The Prioritizing Safety for Sex Workers Policy was created through the Sex Work and Trafficking Policy Impact committee. This policy makes it clear that if a sex worker is victim to a violent crime, the worker will not be charged with prostitution. The policy is in final approval process at the Police Department.  The Bad Date Line was created through this committee as well. This program allows sex workers who have experienced a harmful client to spread awareness of the client to other sex workers through an online forum.  This subcommittee has also produced a feedback document for the POST training video and has sent recommendations.

D. Proposed New Youth Advisory Committee  

SHADE held a focus group comprised of youth who have experienced trafficking and asked what a youth advisory board would look like to them.  Freedom Fwd and SHADE are collaborating to create a fellowship to incorporate youth and lived voice in the Task Force. The fellows will be able to sit on all the committees, if they choose to.  It will be a group of six young people (aged 16-24) affected directly or indirectly by human trafficking. The focus group reported that they wanted a series of trainings before participating in Task Force meetings. The youth recommended trainings over six months. These trainings would cover how to conduct oneself at meetings, how to lead meetings, how to create action from meetings, and many other topics. The youth from the first cohort will then choose and train youth for the following cohort.  The compensation for these fellows will be provided through Freedom Fwd and the fellows will be given space and tasks through SHADE. 

Task Force members raised concerns around language support and collaboration from non-profits who work with undocumented youth.  It was noted that if the Task Force would like the fellows to attend the general meetings or committee meetings then the meeting times must be changed to take place after school.   

The Task Force voted to make the Youth Advisory Committee an official committee of the Task Force. [Emily Murase/Tony Flores] 

 

V.Presentation on How Trafficking Policies can have Collateral Impact on Sex Worker Communities

Zaria Oliver, Alan Guttirez, and Levi Maxwell from LYRIC opened the presentation. Levi Maxwell noted the need for a shift from the immediate negativity young people receive for their involvement in sex work.   Before policies are passed, the Task Force must take a step back and look at the level of autonomy and choice of youth participating in sex work.  When more police are on the ground there is more hiding. Stereotypes of young sex workers, although formed in a well-meaning place, are misconstrued into victimhood. There are people who actively choose sex work and this Task Force must make sure policies created and endorsed do not unintentionally negatively affect trans persons, persons of color, and/ or sex workers. It is important to also bridge the gap from those for whom sex work was not a choice and those who chose to do sex work and create a safe and healing space.

Alan Guttirez stressed the importance of honoring the self-determination of youth.  Many of the youth have a very complex experience with sex work and trafficking.  The end demand framework impacts the safety and welfare of those who are working in the sex trade.   

Carol Leigh presented on the history of anti-trafficking efforts and its relationship to sex work.  She noted that when sex work is criminalized, it becomes more dangerous for sex workers. Historically, it was believed that all sex work is trafficking. The anti-trafficking movement has encouraged the abolitionist approach to end all sex work.  In contrast, in the AIDS crisis, sex workers were seen as peer leaders and were also on the ground floor of harm reduction. A labor approach and focus on abuses and labor rights violations would make a significant impact in safety for sex workers. Criminalization of sex work will cause further harm to sex workers.

 

Next meeting:  April 26, 2017; 1:30-3:30 pm; City Hall, room 305