2024 -- S 2135

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LC003738

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

COMMEMORATING JANUARY OF 2024, AS "RHODE ISLAND SLAVERY AND HUMAN

TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senators E Morgan, Zurier, F. Lombardi, Felag, and Britto

     Date Introduced: January 18, 2024

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     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 approximately 50 million people are currently the

victims of human trafficking and are being used as slaves in some capacity. The International

Labour Office (ILO), estimates that human trafficking generates approximately $150 billion

dollars in profit; and

     WHEREAS, In January of 2018, National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention

Month was first observed and more than $45 million was contributed to the Global Fund to End

Modern Slavery, which provided 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. In 2021, more than $80

million was raised; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby commemorates

January of 2024, 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, Joseph R.

Biden, Jr., the Governor of the State of Rhode Island, Daniel McKee, and the Secretary-General

of the United Nations, António Guterres.

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