Declare Anti-Trafficking Awareness Month

Senate Resolution No. 3502 BY: Senator COMRIE MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim January 2018, as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long- standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim January 2018, as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month; and WHEREAS, In 2007, an interagency task force was created which was dedicated to evaluating the current circumstances of the existence of human trafficking in the State of New York, with the lasting resolve to bolster existing response infrastructures, while creating strategies to aid victims and increase public awareness of the issue, including and beyond the recognition of Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month; and WHEREAS, Beginning in 2010, by Presidential Proclamation, each January has been designated as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month; and WHEREAS, Following the start of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, with the help of non-government organizations, National Human Trafficking Day began and is observed annually on January 11th; and WHEREAS, The State of New York, was, in 2016, the State fifth-most plagued by the scourge of sexual and labor trafficking of individuals of all ages, as recognized by the Polaris Project, a leading non-government, non-profit voice in the global march towards the eradication of human trafficking, which equates with modern slavery; and WHEREAS, The number of sexual and labor trafficking cases reported each year continues to grow as more light is given to the issue by various actors in New York, across the United States, and around the globe; and WHEREAS, In 2016, 332 cases of human trafficking were reported to the Human Trafficking Hotline in the State of New York, which is more than 4% of the 7,621 cases reported across the United States; in addition, 941 total calls were made to the State of New York's Human Trafficking Hotline, of the 26,727 made nationally; and WHEREAS, The scope and magnitude of the issue of slavery and human trafficking is yet to be known, both domestically and abroad; and WHEREAS, Human Trafficking Awareness Month was implemented to raise awareness among Americans that human trafficking does not just happen in other countries, but in states and communities across the United States; and WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of this serious issue, and more must be done to eradicate slavery and human trafficking at the local, State and national levels; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim January 2018, as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.