ACR 140: Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

WHEREAS, Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery. It is a crime that involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to recruit, harbor, transport, provide, or obtain a person for the purposes of labor or sexual exploitation; and

WHEREAS, More than forty million people were estimated to be victims of modern day slavery in 2016, and one in four of those people were children, according to the International Labor Organization; and

WHEREAS, The public perception is that human trafficking victims are from other countries, but data from the Attorney Generals 2012 report on human trafficking in California indicates that 72 percent of identified victims in the United States are American; and

WHEREAS, California harbors three of the thirteen areas with the highest rates of child sex trafficking in the nation, according to the FBI: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature recognizes the significant moral and economic harm of forced labor and human trafficking to both the State of California and citizens across the globe, and that ignoring this problem is detrimental, not only to those enslaved, but also to society as a whole; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature recognizes that Californias extensive international border, major harbors and airports, powerful economy, accelerating population, large immigrant population, and industries make it a prime target for traffickers, and that combating slavery within California will serve to improve conditions both domestically and internationally; and

WHEREAS, From mid-2010 to mid-2012, Californias nine regional human trafficking task forces identified 1,277 victims, initiated 2,552 investigations, arrested 1,798 individuals, and provided training to 25,591 law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, victim service providers, and other first responders; and

WHEREAS, California public schools aim to reduce the vulnerability of all children to incidents of commercial labor or sexual exploitation by implementing comprehensive prevention, education, and training procedures; and

WHEREAS, Nonprofit organizations, whose missions are to assist trafficked individuals, provide resources to give these victims an opportunity to restore their lives through physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual restoration; and

WHEREAS, Americans are committed to individual freedom and will take the necessary steps to nonviolently stop modern day slavery around the world and help its victims through the continued work of community organizations and human trafficking task forces; and

WHEREAS, Opposition to human trafficking by the American people will be directed against all individuals, groups, organizations, and nations that support, advance, or commit acts of modern day slavery; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims January 2018 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in California to encourage greater awareness of human trafficking within the State of California, the United States of America, and internationally; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages all Californians to become educated about human trafficking and work to eradicate these criminal practices within and beyond our borders; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages its members, as well as organizations, businesses, and individuals, to host or sponsor and attend community events to bring visibility and support to efforts made by nongovernmental organizations to recognize and combat human trafficking; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.