The US Senate has unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution designating January as “National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month” to raise awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery. The resolution was introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and is supported by several other senators. The resolution highlights the need for a whole-of-government approach and community partnerships to combat and end human trafficking and modern slavery.

The resolution recognizes the difficulties in identifying victims of human trafficking and modern slavery, who are often subjected to manipulation, force, fraud, coercion, and abuse. The resolution notes that youth experiencing homelessness are vulnerable and susceptible to manipulation, making them prime targets for the lucrative criminal industry of human trafficking. It also highlights the disproportionate impact on LGBTQ youth and American Indian, Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander women and girls with a heightened risk for sex trafficking.

The resolution recognizes the importance of a whole-of-government effort that rests on a unified and coordinated response among federal, state, tribal, and local agencies and places equal value on the prevention of trafficking, the identification and stabilization of victims, and the investigation and prosecution of traffickers. The resolution further urges continued partnerships with Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies, survivors of human trafficking, social service providers, and nonprofit organizations to address human trafficking with a collaborative, victim-centered approach.

You can read the full resolution here: Senate Passes ‘National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month’ Resolution

(This post summarizes two articles on this topic – linked – and was primarily generated by ChatGPT. It was grammar-checked using Grammarly, edited, expanded, and validated by a real human. Image created in Midjourney using the prompt “US Senate” and then edited in Photoshop.)