R 049

2018 -- S 2161 Enacted 02/01/2018

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

COMMEMORATING JANUARY OF 2018 AS "RHODE ISLAND SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senators Morgan, Goodwin, Coyne, Lynch Prata, and Algiere

Date Introduced: January 23, 2018

WHEREAS, Human trafficking, as recognized and defined by the United Nations in the

"Trafficking Protocol" is the "recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of

persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of

deception,…for the purpose of exploitation." Exploitation can include forced prostitution and

other forms of sexual exploitation as well as forced labor. Women and children are particularly

vulnerable to being exploited in these ways; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that between 21 million to 25 million people are currently the

victims of human trafficking and are being used as slaves in some capacity. As of 2014, it is

estimated that human trafficking generates approximately $150 billion dollars in profit; and

WHEREAS, Recently, President Donald J. Trump promulgated a number of initiatives to

combat human trafficking. The President has proclaimed January of 2018 to be National Slavery

and Human Trafficking Month. He also signed initiatives that will contribute $25 million to the

Global Fund to End Modern Slavery, and will provide for enhanced collaboration amongst

nations and their law enforcement and other community and business organizations in order to

dismantle transnational criminal organizations that are involved in human trafficking activities;

now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby commemorates the month of January, 2018, as "National Slavery and Human Trafficking

Prevention Month" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, Donald J.

Trump, the Governor of the State of Rhode Island, Gina M. Raimondo, and the Secretary-

General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres.

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LC003861

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