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.