Commemorating January of 2026, as "Rhode Island Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month" in the State of Rhode Island

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 27.6 million people are currently the victims of human trafficking worldwide and are being used as slaves in some capacity. The International Labour Office (ILO), estimates that human trafficking generates approximately $236 billion dollars in profit; and

WHEREAS, National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month was first observed in January, 2018 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 2024, more than $75 million was raised; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby commemorates January of 2026, 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, Donald Trump, the Governor of the State of Rhode Island, Daniel McKee, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres.