THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY LEACH, STACK, BLAKE, FONTANA, ORIE, KITCHEN, BROWNE, SCHWANK, ERICKSON, BREWSTER, PIPPY, DINNIMAN, GREENLEAF, BOSCOLA, RAFFERTY AND FERLO, JANUARY 23, 2012

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JANUARY 23, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing January 11, 2012, as "National Human Trafficking

Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, This Commonwealth 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 Commonwealth and

globally, the people of Pennsylvania and State and local

governments 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

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 to 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 Day" on January 11 of each year

represents one of the many examples of the ongoing commitment to

raise awareness of and to actively oppose human trafficking;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate support the goals and ideals of

observing "National Human Trafficking Awareness Day" on January

11, 2012, and all other efforts to raise awareness of and

opposition to human trafficking; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize January 11, 2012, as

"National Human Trafficking Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania.