Establishes task force on missing women and girls who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color.
The task force will consist of 15 members, including officials from various state departments and appointees that represent impacted communities. Their responsibilities will include developing training and education materials, ensuring first responders are culturally competent, and crafting a public awareness campaign. The establishment of this task force aims to create systematic changes to improve responses to the concerning rate of missing and murdered BIPOC women and girls, highlighting the need for comprehensive data collection and community engagement.
AJR184, introduced in New Jersey, establishes a task force dedicated to addressing the issue of missing women and girls who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC). This resolution is motivated by alarming statistics, such as the Centers for Disease Control reporting that murder is a leading cause of death among Native women and estimates of 64,000 to 75,000 missing Black women and girls across the United States. The resolution emphasizes that these cases often receive inadequate media and law enforcement attention, exacerbating the disparities faced by BIPOC communities.
A notable point of contention lies in addressing systemic issues such as racism and sexism, which have historically led to the underreporting of BIPOC missing persons cases. Advocates argue that the creation of this task force represents a critical step towards rectifying these inequities. However, there may be discussions regarding the allocation of resources and the effectiveness of state intervention in addressing these deeply entrenched societal issues. The success of the task force will depend significantly on its ability to connect authentically with the communities it intends to serve.