Presidential Proclamation -- National Slavery and
Human Trafficking Prevention Month, 2017
NATIONAL
SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH, 2017
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Our Nation wrestled with the
issue of slavery in a way that nearly tore us apart -- its fundamental
notion in direct contradiction with our founding premise that we are all
created equal. The courageous individuals who rejected such cruelty
helped us overcome one of the most painful chapters in our history as we
worked to realize the promise of equality and justice for all. But today,
in too many places around the world -- including right here in the United
States -- the injustice of modern slavery and human trafficking still
tears at our social fabric. During National Slavery and Human Trafficking
Prevention Month, we resolve to shine a light on every dark corner where
human trafficking still threatens the basic rights and freedoms of
others.
From factories and brothels
to farms and mines, millions of men, women, and children in the United
States and around the world are exploited for their bodies and their
labor. Whether through violence, deceit, or the promises of a better
life, some of the most vulnerable populations among us -- including
migrants and refugees fleeing conflict or disaster, homeless LGBT youth,
Alaska Native and American Indian women and girls, and children in
poverty -- are preyed upon by human traffickers. In order to rid the
world of modern slavery we must do everything in our power to combat
these violations of human decency.
The United States has
pursued efforts to address these crimes and lift up individuals who have
suffered unspeakable abuse at the hands of traffickers. Through the
Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, we
have joined with the private sector, faith communities, law enforcement,
and advocates to coordinate efforts to prevent trafficking and protect
victims. Focusing on an agenda that prioritizes victim services, the rule
of law, procurement of supplies, and increasing public awareness, the
Task Force has strengthened Federal efforts to end human trafficking. In
2012, I issued an Executive Order to strengthen protections against human
trafficking in Federal contracting, and nearly a year ago, I signed
legislation that strengthened our ability to prevent products made with
forced labor, including child labor, from entering American markets.
We must address the
consequences of human trafficking and work to tackle its root causes.
This past fiscal year, the Department of Health and Human Services and
the Department of Justice provided more than $60 million to
community-based organizations and task forces to assist human trafficking
victims, and since the beginning of my Administration, we have nearly
tripled the number of victims connected to services.The Department of
Homeland Security has also taken steps to streamline immigration
procedures for trafficking victims and ensure their regulations are
consistent with existing law. And through new Victims of Crime Act
regulations, Federal funds can now be used to help human trafficking
victims with their housing. Through the White House Council on Women and
Girls, we have worked to address the sexual abuse-to-prison pipeline that
disproportionately affects those especially vulnerable to sex trafficking
-- including young women and girls of color. And the U.S. Advisory
Council on Human Trafficking -- comprised of 11 human trafficking
survivors of diverse backgrounds and experiences -- recently released its
first set of recommendations for combating human trafficking while
keeping survivor perspectives in mind.
Every action we take at
home, from the clothing we wear to the food we eat, is connected to what
happens around the world. As a Nation, we have worked to address the
problem of forced labor in our supply chains, and as individuals, we must
strive to be conscientious consumers. Working with our friends and
allies, we have made this issue an international priority. Just this year
we used multilateral fora, including the North American Leaders Summit,
the East Asia Summit, and the United Nations, to raise awareness and work
with partners around the globe. In addition to urging other countries to
develop and expand their anti-trafficking laws and services for victims,
we are also stepping up our foreign assistance in this area. Working
alongside the international community, we have seen significant increases
in trafficking prosecutions and convictions, and we have made great
strides in supporting victims.
As leaders in the global
undertaking to end the exploitation of human beings for profit, we must
always remember that our freedom is bound to the freedom of others. This
month, let us find inspiration in America's progress toward justice,
opportunity, and prosperity for all and reaffirm our pledge to continue
fighting for human rights around the world.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK
OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do
hereby proclaim January 2017 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking
Prevention Month, culminating in the annual celebration of National
Freedom Day on February 1. I call upon businesses, national and community
organizations, families, and all Americans to recognize the vital role we
must play in ending all forms of slavery and to observe this month with
appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have
hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of
our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and forty-first.
BARACK OBAMA
***************************************************
Read more:
- DipNote
Post: Confronting Human Traffickers, Helping Those Who Are
Victimized
|