2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
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2023 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 99
January 19, 2024 - Introduced by Senators L. JOHNSON, JAMES, SPREITZER, PFAFF,
AGARD, BALLWEG, SMITH, CARPENTER and TESTIN, cosponsored by
Representatives BILLINGS, O'CONNOR, MADISON, CONSIDINE, TITTL, MURSAU,
CONLEY, GREEN, C. ANDERSON, MOORE OMOKUNDE, SINICKI, GUNDRUM,
BINSFELD, ALLEN, STUBBS, VINING, RATCLIFF, MAGNAFICI, EMERSON, DRAKE,
BARE, JOERS, MURPHY, KRUG, PENTERMAN, DUCHOW, DITTRICH, SCHRAA, PALMERI
and S. JOHNSON. Referred to Committee on Senate Organization.
1 Relating to: proclaiming January 2024 as Human Trafficking Awareness and
2 Prevention Month in the state of Wisconsin.
3 Whereas, human trafficking occurs when a person is recruited, harbored,
4 obtained, or transported through force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of sexual
5 exploitation, commercial sex acts, or labor exploitation; and
6 Whereas, human traffickers disproportionately target at-risk populations,
7 including individuals who have experienced or been exposed to other violence, such
8 as child abuse and maltreatment and community violence, and those who are
9 disconnected from support networks, such as runaway and homeless youth,
10 unaccompanied minors, and persons displaced by natural disasters; and
11 Whereas, since 2007, more than 82,000 total cases of human trafficking have
12 been reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline; and
13 Whereas, the average age a trafficking victim enters the sex trade in the United
14 States is between 12 and 14 years old; and
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1 Whereas, in 2022, an estimated one-out-of-six endangered runaways reported
2 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children were likely child sex
3 trafficking victims; and
4 Whereas, a 2019 U.S. Department of State report found that advocates reported
5 a growing trend of traffickers targeting individuals with disabilities and an increase
6 in the use of social media platforms to recruit and advertise victims of human
7 trafficking; and
8 Whereas, human trafficking has been reported in all 72 counties in this state,
9 and it is a crime found in rural, urban, and suburban communities; and
10 Whereas, human trafficking is modern-day slavery, a practice that is in direct
11 opposition to the fundamental principles of liberty and human rights upon which our
12 nation was founded; and
13 Whereas, to combat human trafficking in our state, our citizens must be aware
14 of the realities of human trafficking, educated to recognize victims of human
15 trafficking, and dedicated to stopping it; and
16 Whereas, a resolution passed by the U.S. Senate on June 22, 2007, has forever
17 marked January 11 as a day of awareness and vigilance for the countless victims and
18 survivors of human trafficking around the world; and
19 Whereas, Wisconsin has zero tolerance for human trafficking, and eliminating
20 human trafficking is a goal shared by all Americans who believe in freedom and
21 liberty for all people; now, therefore, be it
22 Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of the
23 Wisconsin Legislature proclaim January 2024 as Human Trafficking Awareness and
24 Prevention Month in the state of Wisconsin.
25 (END)