South Orange Recognizes Human Trafficking Awareness Day

In honor of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, which is Saturday, Jan. 11, The South Orange Board of Trustees presented a proclamation to the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking during a December meeting.

The United Nations International Labor Organization estimated that more people are now harmed by Human Trafficking worldwide than ever at any point in human history,” said Village President Alex Torpey. “Approximately 80 percent of the victims are women and girls, and 50 percent are younger than 18 years old.”

Click here for more information on the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking.

Read the proclamation in its entirety:

"WHEREAS, human trafficking is a borderless crime against individuals that violates the most basic human rights and deprives victims of every shred of personal freedom; and

WHEREAS, human trafficking occurs when a person is recruited, harbored, obtained, or exported through force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of sexual or labor exploitation, involuntary servitude, and other types of mental and physical abuse; and

WHEREAS, human traffickers target impoverished and marginalized children, women and men, isolating them from society and supportive networks and exploiting them for personal and monetary gain; and

WHEREAS, human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world today, and is tied with arms smuggling as the second largest international criminal industry, falling only behind the illicit drug trade; and

WHEREAS, the United Nations’ International Labour Organization has estimated that at least 12.3 million adults and children worldwide are currently in forced labor, bonded labor, or forced prostitution; and it is estimated that more people are now harmed by Human Trafficking worldwide than have been at any other point in human history. Approximately 80% of the victims are women and girls, and 50% are younger than age 18; and

WHEREAS, many victims trafficked into the U.S. do not speak or understand English and are unable to communicate to seek rescue. Under U.S. law, any person under 18 involved in the commercial sex industry is considered a Human Trafficking victim; and victims include U.S. citizens and documented immigrants; and

WHEREAS we recognize that New Jersey is a prime location for Human Trafficking because it is a major national and international transportation corridor and a culturally diverse state; 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, on February 1, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Once ratified, it officially outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude except as punishment for a crime; and

WHEREAS, Although the federal government and the State of New Jersey have enacted laws to prosecute human traffickers and protect the victims of human trafficking, traffickers use techniques to keep their victims enslaved that severely limit self-reporting and that require broad public awareness of human trafficking issues for enforcement and prevention to occur; and

WHEREAS, the New Jersey State Constitution declares that all persons are by nature free and independent and have certain natural and unalienable rights; and

WHEREAS, the people of New Jersey, regardless of political persuasion, creed, race, or national origin, stand together with the global community to protect the fundamental freedoms and rights of all persons, to fight the proliferation of human trafficking in all of its forms, and to assist survivors of modern day slavery; and

WHEREAS, the township of ______________ stands committed to protecting human rights and individual freedom by eliminating human trafficking.

WHEREAS, the township of ________ is resolved to support the goals and ideals of observing a National Day of Human Trafficking Awareness on January 11 of each year and to support all efforts by individuals,

businesses, organizations, and governing bodies to raise awareness of and opposition to Human Trafficking.

WHEREAS, the township commends the work of the NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking for its statewide efforts to end human trafficking through education, advocacy, and assistance to survivors and to increase coordination and visibility of New Jersey’s commitment to end human trafficking.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ___________________, do hereby proclaim January 11 of each year as: Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the township of ________, to raise awareness about the signs and consequences of human trafficking, to promote opposition to human trafficking in all of its forms, and to encourage support for the survivors of human trafficking throughout the State of New Jersey and across the world to put an end to this criminal activity and restore freedom and dignity to its survivors."