PRESS

These articles are a testimonial to the active advocacy within their respective communities by our partner organizations.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SIGNED THE START ACT!
November 18, 2021
The START Act, S.674/A.459, has been signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul.

The Start Act is a criminal record relief law that will enable survivors of human trafficking to petition the court to clear convictions for any and all offenses survivors were forced to commit during their exploitation.

This law is a significant win for survivors of human trafficking across New York State who have been prevented from moving forward with their lives because of the law’s current limitations. This expanded version will allow survivors to petition to clear all offenses, not just prostitution-related offenses, giving them access to the jobs, housing, and education that criminal backgrounds often exclude them from.

Human trafficking and forced criminality disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ and people of color and as such, the passage of the START Act is racial justice, gender justice, LGBTQ+ justice, economic justice, and immigration justice. We applaud Gov. Hochul for signing the bill into law, and all the advocacy agencies who championed this bill.

The International Institute of Buffalo's Impact
Last year alone, IIB assisted nearly 375 survivors of human trafficking as they worked toward safety, stability, and healing through offering case management services, language access, and education regarding victim rights, criminal justice-based advocacy and links with our many community partners who offer emergency shelter, legal support, medical and mental health services, and employment skills.
Our team is ready to help survivors clear the unjust criminal records that inhibit their success and threaten to re-victimize them.
Read more here

JanUARY 2022

“$1.5M in federal funds will support human trafficking victim screening, support services in WNY”

The Buffalo News / Read Full Article

November 2021

“Federal funding coming to support anti-labor trafficking efforts in WNY”

Spectrum News 1 / Read Full Article

MAY 2021

“Owners of Mexican restaurant in Niagara Falls plead guilty in trafficking case”

WIVB / Read Full Article

DECEMBER 2020

“Jamestown woman charged with sex trafficking of minors”

The Dunkirk Observer / Read Full Article

November 2020

“Parolee Pleads Guilty to Promoting Prostitution”

Erie County District Attorney’s Office / Read Press Release

OCTOBER 2020

“Anti-human Trafficking Groups Push Politicians, Media Companies to Fight QAnon Conspiracy Theories”

Fox News / Read Article

JUNE 2020

“Two Niagara County Men Charged With Forcing Undocumented Immigrants To Work In Their Mexican Restaurant”

Western District of NY DOJ/ Read Full Article

January 2020

“Sex Trafficker Convicted Following A Jury Trial Of Using Crack Cocaine And Heroin To Coerce Victims Into Prostitution Going To Prison For 30 Years”

Western District of NY DOJ/ Read Full Article

“Western New York focuses on human trafficking”

WGRZ/ Read Full Article