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

Survivors Coach Providers on Care with Compassion

Training supports and empowers youth survivors of exploitation through reproductive healthcare experiences

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

Live Art Gallery

The Virtual Art Gallery is live--see the works now! Register to join the live event on January 27.

January 27, 2023 - 1:00pm

Legal Advocacy & Impact Litigation

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Laws & Policy

See All Laws & Policy

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

Implementation of the Federal Preventing Child Sex Trafficking Act (2015)

HR 4980/SB 794

In 2015, California passed Senate Bill (SB) 794 which enacted key provisions of the federal Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act of 2014 (HR 4980). Importantly, SB 794 requires counties develop two sets of protocols for CSEC and for youth who runaway or go missing from foster

Enacted

Press Coverage

Hundreds of Trafficked Girls, Thousands of Child Welfare Referrals

November 16, 2018

The Imprint

Human trafficking officials tell supes protocols are working

November 14, 2018

The Signal Santa Clarita Valley

L.A. County Officials Highlight Success of Fight Against Sex Trafficking

November 13, 2018

My News LA

Bill would end criminalizing children for prostitution

August 7, 2016

SF Gate

OPD Sex Scandal Puts Spotlight on Bay Area Sex Trafficking

August 4, 2016

KQED-FM

Badge of Dishonor: Top Oakland Police Department Officials Looked Away as East Bay Cops Sexually Exploited and Trafficked a Teenager

June 15, 2016

East Bay Express

Related Resources

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...

Reports

Using Data to Improve Outcomes for Children and Youth Impacted by Commercial Sexual Exploitation: Recommendations of the CSEC Action Team, Data and Outcomes Workgroup

Final recommendations of the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) Action Team’s workgroup on Data and Outcomes to California Department...

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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