HomeMy WebLinkAbout4759-19 Human Trafficking Prevention Awareness Month H J
BILL NO. 19-06
RESOLUTION NO. 4759-19
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND,INDIANA WARNING
AREA RESIDENTS OF THE DANGERS AND PREVALENCE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THIS AREA
members of the public are generally aware of, and are sympathetic to, those who face the dangers
of human trafficking; and
the true nature and extent of this crime against helpless individuals is nothing less than staggering;
and
4fismai, The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 defines sex trafficking as, "a commercial sex act
that is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not
attained 18 years of age." Labor trafficking is defined as, "the recruitment, harboring, transportation,provision,
or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of
subjection to involuntary servitude,peonage, debt bondage, or slavery"; and
human trafficking is the fastest growing and second largest criminal enterprise in the world today,
generating an estimated $150 billion dollars annually; and
4fmmii, throughout the world over 27 million people are exploited through human trafficking with an
estimated 300,000 American youths at risk of becoming victims of commercial sexual exploitation with an
additional 14,500-17,500 humans trafficked into the United States annually; and
G these numbers are just the tip of the iceberg due to underreporting and with the number of cases
increasing exponentially each year through the use of social media and the internet; and
South Bend and the surrounding areas are not safe from these dangers as shown by the recent
discovery and rescue of five victims in southwest Michigan and the arrests of traffickers in South Bend and Ft.
Wayne in late 2017 as part of an FBI nationwide operation, which in a four-day period, rescued 84 minors and
arrested 120 traffickers; and
61 , the youngest victim recovered in the FBI operation was 3 months old and the average age of the
victims being 15.; and
4fl« the children and young adult victims are not just nameless and faceless unknowns, but include
our sons, daughters, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and the children playing outside next door; and
cl it is no longer enough to know"of'the problem,but now necessary to know"about"the problem
by independently seeking out information and, more importantly, when seeing anything that raises suspicion,
doing something to inform the proper authorities or agencies.
auh g/z x xa 6e it xt,so/ed G dee aS.rnian ` uneil?de (? - i (endJndiana, a6J:
Section I. Human trafficking in any form is morally reprehensible and contrary to our cherished
freedoms.
Section II. Everyone has a duty to do what is in their ability to end human trafficking and protect the
victims.
Section III. In addition to local and regional First Responders, the following are some of the resources
available to learn more or to take action:
National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888; (TTY: 711); Text 233733;
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Indiana Attorney General: https://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/2963.htm
Indiana Trafficking Victim Assistance Program:http://www.indysb.org/itvap
Polaris Project: https://polarisproject.org/
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign: https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign
In Our Backyard: http://inourbackyard.org/
Section IV. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from after its adoption by the Common
Council and approval by the Mayor.
at die 2c9 dtw, 2/9
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Ti S 4 tt, t c , ouncil Member .: ° Olive . ►.vis, 6th t strict Cq mcil Member
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Regin illiams-Preston.,2nd District Council Member John Voorde t Large Council *ems er
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Sh, "on,-L. cBri: rd District Council Member Gavin Fe lic t Large Council Member
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.-e-c.....4.21,.... —./Jo M2tCouncil Member Karen . ite, A Lar e/Cunci em4r
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Jake Teshka, 5th District Council Member Robert J. Palmer, Council Attorney
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Kareemah Fowler, City Clerk Pete Buttigi ayor of,Soutt lend, Indiana
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