WHEREAS, human trafficking involves the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a human being for the purpose of a commercial sex act, labor or services by means of force, fraud or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform a sex act has not reached 18 years of age; and
WHEREAS, human trafficking is a crime against an individual that violates their basic human rights, depriving victims of human dignity and freedom, regardless of race, religion, gender, age, citizenship, or socioeconomic status; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina’s location along the east coast and major highways across the state contribute to the progressive challenge of human trafficking and now with the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and economic vulnerabilities to human trafficking increased; and
WHEREAS, 300 human trafficking survivors were served in 2020 by state-funded sexual assault agencies, according to data collected by the North Carolina Council for Women and Youth Involvement, a resource to service providers, communities, families, and individuals through online, self-paced trainings; and
WHEREAS, the state of North Carolina is protecting residents from human trafficking through prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership between the NC Human Trafficking Commission, Council for Women and Youth Involvement, and other state organizations that educate and serve as a resource for North Carolinians; and
WHEREAS, increased education on how to identify human trafficking along with increased knowledge of resources and services can help North Carolina communities, families and individuals recognize the risk factors and signs of sex and labor trafficking to help in our response to human trafficking; and
WHEREAS, Human Trafficking Awareness Month provides an opportunity to recognize the critical role all North Carolinians have in preventing and responding to this crime;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim January 11, 2022, as “HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS DAY” and January 2022 as “HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.
