President Donald Trump in a proclamation designated January 2021 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month to combat human trafficking.
The proclamation was issued Dec. 31.
In the proclamation, Trump stated that human trafficking affections millions of victims and the United States leads the fight against the horrific act.
"Human trafficking is a horrific assault on human dignity that affects people in the United States and around the world," the proclamation states. "It tears apart communities, fuels criminal activity, and threatens the national security of the United States. During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we reaffirm our commitment to eradicate this abhorrent evil, to support victims and survivors, and to hold traffickers accountable for their heinous crimes."
Last year the White House Summit on Human Trafficking was hosted and an executive order was signed by Trump on Combating Human Trafficking and Online Child Exploitation. Through that order, the administration established a position to combat human trafficking.
In addition, the Trump Administration issued a national plan to combat trafficking in October 2020. That plan, called the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, was built around what the administration called the "three pillars" of the Traffic Victims Protection Act of 2000: prevention, protection and prosecution.
The plan also included a fourth pillar, "which recognizes the invaluable benefit of implementing collaborative and cooperative efforts that crosscut all three pillars and involve a multitude of stakeholders and professionals from various disciplines and sectors. Using this strategy, the United States Government will employ a whole-of-government approach to improve our capabilities and build on existing momentum in our fight against human trafficking," the proclamation states.
That whole-of-government approach included the Health and Human Services and Children and Family Services roles in combating trafficking. Those agencies reported disturbing numbers of trafficking victims. HHS found 412 foreign national adult victims of human trafficking--69% of which experienced labor trafficking and 22% of which experienced sex trafficking, and 8% which experienced both. HHS also found 466 foreign national child victims, of which 67% experienced labor trafficking and 27% experienced sex trafficking.
"Tragically, through force, fraud, and coercion, human traffickers deprive millions of victims of their unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," the proclamation states. "Often referred to as 'modern slavery,' this intolerable blight on society involves exploitation for labor or sex and affects people of all ages, genders, races, religions, and nationalities. As the United States continues to lead the global fight against human trafficking, we must remain relentless in our resolve to dismantle this illicit and immoral enterprise in our cities, suburbs, rural communities, Tribal lands, and transportation networks."
