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2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
2023 ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTIO N 9
February 6, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives BILLINGS, KITCHENS, DRAKE,
PENTERMAN, SPIROS, EMERSON, BALDEH, SCHUTT, TITTL, CONLEY, MURSAU,
VINING, HAYWOOD, DITTRICH, ARMSTRONG, MURPHY, NOVAK, BEHNKE, O'CONNOR,
SHANKLAND, MOORE OMOKUNDE, RIEMER, SHELTON, CONSIDINE, JOERS, TUSLER,
SUBECK, STUBBS, HONG, ROZAR, MADISON, CLANCY, ANDRACA, ALLEN, C.
ANDERSON, ORTIZ-VELEZ, SINICKI and DONOVAN, cosponsored by Senators L.
JOHNSON, JAMES, ROYS, TAYLOR, CARPENTER, CABRAL-GUEVARA, JACQUE,
HESSELBEIN, LARSON, AGARD, SPREITZER, BALLWEG and MARKLEIN. Referred to
Committee on Rules.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
Relating to: proclaiming January 2023 as human trafficking awareness and
prevention month.
Whereas, human trafficking occurs when a person is recruited, harbored,
obtained, or transported through force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of sexual
exploitation, commercial sex acts, or labor exploitation; and
Whereas, human traffickers disproportionately target at-risk populations,
including individuals who have experienced or been exposed to other violence, such
as child abuse and maltreatment and community violence, and those who are
disconnected from support networks, such as runaway and homeless youth,
unaccompanied minors, and persons displaced by natural disasters; and
Whereas, since 2007 more than 82,000 total cases of human trafficking have
been reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, including 796 in
Wisconsin; and
Whereas, the average age a trafficking victim enters the sex trade in the United
States is from 12 to 14 years old; and
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Whereas, in 2021, an estimated one out of six endangered runaways reported
to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children were likely child sex
trafficking victims, 70 percent of all trafficking victims are female, and 50 percent
of victims are children; and
Whereas, a 2019 U.S. State Department report found that advocates reported
a growing trend of traffickers targeting people with disabilities and an increase in
the use of social media platforms to recruit and advertise victims of human
trafficking; and
Whereas, human trafficking has been reported in all 72 counties in the state,
and it is a crime found in rural, urban, and suburban communities; and
Whereas, human trafficking is modern-day slavery, a practice that is in direct
opposition to the fundamental principles of liberty and human rights upon which our
nation was founded; and
Whereas, to combat human trafficking in our state, our citizens must be aware
of the realities of human trafficking, educated to recognize victims of human
trafficking, and dedicated to stopping it; and
Whereas, a resolution passed by the U.S. Senate on June 22, 2007, has forever
marked January 11 as a day of awareness and vigilance for the countless victims and
survivors of human trafficking around the world; and
Whereas, Wisconsin has zero tolerance for human trafficking, and eliminating
human trafficking is a goal shared by all Americans who believe in freedom and
liberty for all people; now, therefore, be it
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Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the
Wisconsin Legislature proclaim January 2023 as Human Trafficking Awareness and
Prevention Month in the State of Wisconsin.
(END)
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