Focus area

Commercial Sexual Exploitation

NCYL seeks to end the commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) of children and youth - also referred to as child sex trafficking - and support children, youth, families and caregivers affected by CSE experience safety and healing so that they may achieve their goals. We work to research, identify, develop and implement policies and practices that achieve collective systems change.

Center Youth
NCYL works with survivor leaders with personal experience with CSE as children or youth who provide leadership and consultation to our team, our partners, governmental agencies, community-based organizations and other stakeholders.

Our Success & Impact

Get up to date on our latest work - from litigation and policy wins to new reports, resources, events and more.

Success and Impact

We all can build awareness to end human trafficking

During Human Trafficking Awareness Month each January, you read, hear, and see more about commercial sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, and human...

Success and Impact

'Little April' short film powerfully examines how systems fail youth, offers inspiration

"Little April," a newly released short film, offers a powerful and inspiring twist on an unfortunate reality. It also provides a strong launch point...

Success and Impact

Toolkit Aims To Provide Communities With Resources To Address Exploitation Of Children

NCYL developed the CRCSE toolkit, a practical how-to guide designed to empower communities to lay the groundwork for change themselves.

Our Initiatives

Drive Change Through Survivor And Youth Leadership

NCYL convenes survivor leaders and engages with youth impacted by CSE to better understand the impact of exploitation, the challenges young people experience, and the services and supports they and their families need to meet their goals and thrive. Their voices drive every part of our work.

Transform The Legal Landscape To Recognize And Treat CSE As Child Abuse

NCYL partners with survivors leaders and key stakeholders to shift public perception, change laws, and secure funding to stop punishing people impacted by CSE.

Equip Community, Systems And Professionals To Provide Holistic, Youth-Centered Supports

NCYL is at the forefront of innovative policies and practices that support youth and families impacted by CSE. With this perspective and context, we partner closely with systems and community to help them invest in supportive responses to youth experiencing CSE.

Build System And Community Collaboration To Holistically Support Youth

Changing hearts, minds, culture, and policies to serve youth impacted by CSE requires multiple stakeholders to come together to grow awareness and create a coordinated response. NCYL convenes, leads and engages partners in collaborations that have the shared goal of supporting youth experiencing CSE

Related Events

Summer Series Kickoff with Keynote Speaker Atasi Uppal

June 9, 2023 - 1:00pm

Legal Advocacy & Impact Litigation

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Laws & Policy

See All Laws & Policy

Justice for Survivors (2021)

AB 124 (Kamlager)

AB 124 aims to support survivors of violence, including domestic violence and human trafficking, by providing trauma-informed charging, sentencing, and resentencing relief and trial advocacy considerations.

Enacted

Training Law Enforcement to Protect Sexually Exploited Children (2018)

AB 2992 (Daly)

This law requires law enforcement have the knowledge and skills needed to protect sexually exploited children.

Enacted

Decriminalization of Child Sex Trafficking Victims (2016)

SB 1322 (Mitchell)

With the passage of this law, California declared There's No Such Thing as a Child Prostitute.

Enacted

Related Resources

How to Support Youth Impacted by Commercial Sexual Exploitation During Testimony

Find Guidance & Resources for Youth & Adults in the Victim Witness Testimony Protocol

A Guide to Implementing & Evaluating Services for Youth Experiencing Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Supporting the holistic needs of children and youth experiencing commercial sexual exploitation requires thoughtful collaboration and assessment among...

Dark blue report cover displaying title and authors in white text over light blue shapes

Reports

Strategies to End Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Youth: A toolkit for collaborative action

A practical how-to guide that offers best practices and learnings gleaned from our decade of working to address the commercial sexual exploitation of...

Report cover with photo of the back of the head of five people sitting on a park bench

Reports

Building Bridges: How Los Angeles County Came Together to Support Children and Youth Impacted by Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Produced in partnership with Los Angeles County, “Building Bridges: How Los Angeles County Came Together to Support Children and Youth Impacted by...

Reports

Recommendations to improve out of home care from youth who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation

Identifying safe and stable housing is of critical importance for the prevention of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) among children and youth...

Where We Focus

National Center for Youth Law is committed to achieving large-scale, lasting change across multiple government systems and public agencies. Explore all the areas of our work to Center Youth.

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