Press Release Details
Staff and Students to Learn about Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
October 15, 2015 (San Francisco) – The San Francisco Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution authored by Board President Emily M. Murase in support of teaching school district staff and students to identify the signs of human trafficking.
“Trafficked youth don’t often recognize that they are trafficked.” said Board President Murase. “Our schools are an important part of a community wide effort to ensure vulnerable youth get the support and services they need.”
All commercial sex involving a minor is defined as human trafficking. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified San Francisco as one of 13 “high-intensity child exploitation areas.” The average age of commercially exploited children is between 11 and 14, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
As directed by its resolution “In Support of Countering Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children,” SFUSD staff will add language to its existing Child Abuse Reporting Policy to address human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children, and enforce a mandatory reporting protocol.
The district will also develop a comprehensive training for school administrators, teachers and support staff regarding the identification and mandatory reporting of human trafficking.
Students will receive age-appropriate information about the signs of human trafficking for inclusion in existing health curriculum. Student leaders will be engaged to do peer outreach on the subject.
Additionally, the resolution calls for the history of World War II “comfort women” under the Japanese military will be taught during history or social studies classes in secondary schools.
“It’s important for youth to learn the history and current day realities of sexual exploitation so that we can prevent it,” said Murase.
Page updated on 10/15/15