10-R005
2010 -- H 7027
Enacted 01/06/10
H O U S E R E S
O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING THE
MONTH OF JANUARY 2010 TO BE "NATIONAL SLAVERY AND
HUMAN
TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH" IN THE STATE OF
Introduced By: Representatives Giannini, Fox, Fellela, DaSilva, and Messier
Date Introduced: January 06, 2010
WHEREAS, The United
States was founded on the principle that all people are born with
an unalienable right to freedom—an ideal that has driven
the engine of American progress
throughout our country’s history; and
WHEREAS, As a Nation,
Americans have known moments of great darkness and greater
light; and dim years of chattel slavery illuminated and
brought to an end by President Lincoln’s
actions and a painful Civil War; and
WHEREAS, Today, the
darkness and inhumanity of enslavement still subsists, with
thousands of people within the
service; and
WHEREAS, During National
Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, it is
vital that Rhode Islanders unite with people across the
nation to acknowledge that forms of
slavery still exist in the modern era, and recommit ourselves
to stopping the human traffickers
who ply this horrific trade; and
WHEREAS, As the
United States continues the fight to deliver on the promise of
freedom to all people, we commemorate the Emancipation
Proclamation, which became effective
on January 1, 1863, and the 13th Amendment, which was
sent to the states for ratification on
February 1, 1865; and
WHEREAS, The victims of modern slavery have many faces. They are men
and
women, adults and children. Yet, all are denied basic human
dignity and freedom. Victims can
be abused in their own countries, or find themselves far
from home and vulnerable; and
WHEREAS, Whether they are trapped in forced sexual or labor
exploitation, human
trafficking victims cannot walk away, but are held in service
through force, threats, and fear. All
too often suffering from horrible physical and sexual
abuse, it is hard for them to imagine that
there might be a place of refuge; and
WHEREAS, Rhode
Islanders must join with people across the Nation and the global
community to provide that safe haven by protecting victims and
prosecuting traffickers. With
improved victim identification, medical and social services,
training for first responders, and
increased public awareness, the men, women, and children who
have suffered this scourge can
overcome the bonds of modern slavery, receive protection and
justice, and successfully reclaim
their rightful independence; and
WHEREAS, Fighting modern slavery and human trafficking is a shared
responsibility;
now, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That this House of Representatives of the State of
Providence Plantations
hereby proclaims the month of January 2010 to be “National Slavery and
Human Trafficking
Prevention Month” in the State of
RESOLVED,
That this House of Representatives hereby acknowledges
and commends
the many fronts in the ongoing battle for civil
rights—including the efforts of Federal Agencies;
state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners;
international partners; nonprofit social service
providers; and private industry and nongovernmental
organizations around the world who are
working to end human trafficking; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That this House of Representatives hereby urges all
Rhode Islanders to
educate themselves about all forms of modern slavery and the
signs and consequences of human
trafficking to end this most serious, ongoing criminal civil
rights violation. We must all accept
the vital role we can play in ending modern slavery; and
be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is
authorized and directed to
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the
Honorable Eric H. Holder, Attorney
General
of the
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LC00280
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