Recognizing January as "National Human Trafficking Awareness Month" in Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, Philadelphia has a tradition of advancing fundamental human rights; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative to eliminate human trafficking, including early or forced marriage, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, labor obtained through debt bondage, involuntary servitude, slavery and slavery by descent; and

WHEREAS, To combat human trafficking in this City, the people of Philadelphia must be aware of the realities of human trafficking and must be dedicated to stopping this contemporary manifestation of slavery; and

WHEREAS, Efforts shall be made to actively oppose all individuals, groups, organizations and nations who support, advance or commit acts of human trafficking and to work to end human trafficking around the world through education and addressing the demand; and

WHEREAS, Victims of human trafficking need support in order to escape and to recover from the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual trauma associated with their victimization; and

WHEREAS, Human traffickers use many physical and psychological techniques to control their victims, including the use of violence or threats of violence against the victim or the victim's family, isolation from the public, isolation from the victim's family and religious or ethnic communities, language and cultural barriers, shame, control of the victim's possessions, confiscation of passports and other identification documents and threats of arrest, deportation, or imprisonment if the victim attempts to reach out for assistance or leave; and

WHEREAS, Although laws to prosecute perpetrators of human trafficking and to assist and protect victims of human trafficking have been enacted in the United States, awareness of the issues surrounding human trafficking by those people most likely to come into contact with victims is essential for effective enforcement because the techniques that traffickers use to keep their victims enslaved severely limit self-reporting; and

WHEREAS, The effort by individuals, businesses, organizations and governing bodies to promote the observance of “National Human Trafficking Awareness Month” in January of each year represents one of the many examples of the ongoing commitment to raise awareness of and to actively oppose human trafficking; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Support the goals and ideals of observing January as “National Human Trafficking Awareness Month” and all other efforts to raise awareness of and opposition to human trafficking.

FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Recognizes January as “National Human Trafficking Awareness Month” in Philadelphia.

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