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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 296 Draft 01 2020-2022 A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING JANUARY AS “SEX TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH” IN THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I.  WHEREAS, sex trafficking often affects the most vulnerable, such as those who experience child abuse, sexual abuse, mental health issues, substance abuse, poverty, immigration status issues, as well as susceptible children and runaway minors; and WHEREAS, every year since 2010, the President of the United States has proclaimed January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month to bring awareness about human trafficking, also known as modern slavery, and to advocate for the estimated 25 million people who are being trafficked across the globe, including in the State of Hawai‘i; and WHEREAS, on July 5, 2016, Governor David Y. Ige signed into law Act 206 that explicitly bans sex trafficking in Hawai‘i, making it a violent crime and a Class A felony; and WHEREAS, in January 2020, Khara Jabola-Carolus, member of the Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, and Dominique Roe-Sepowitz, from Arizona State University-Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research, published “Sex Trafficking in Hawai‘i, Part III: Sex Trafficking Experiences Across Hawai‘i,” attached hereto as Exhibit A, which documented the sex trafficking demographics in Hawai‘i and found that 64 percent of the sex trafficking victims identified as Native Hawaiian; and WHEREAS, on January 9, 2020, Governor David Y. Ige and Lieutenant Governor Josh B. Green proclaimed January 2020 as “Sex Trafficking Awareness Month”; and WHEREAS, in May 2020, the Department of the Attorney General established a statewide human trafficking coordinator position, and through a multidisciplinary approach, is working to improve Hawai‘i’s anti-trafficking response by collaborating with law enforcement partners, increasing the number of prosecutions, developing training programs and prevention strategies, and partnering with the community in public awareness, outreach, and education campaigns; and WHEREAS, on June 24, 2021, Governor David Y. Ige signed into law Act 68, a comprehensive reform of Hawai‘i’s criminal sex trafficking laws that moved away from punishing prostituted people to focusing on sex buyers and classifying sex trafficking as “Commercial Sexual Exploitation” and “Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Minors”; and WHEREAS, the Council recognizes the State entities, social providers, and community advocates who are tirelessly working toward the elimination of sex trafficking in the State of Hawai‘i; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I that the Council recognizes every January as “Sex Trafficking Awareness Month” and supports the rights of victims and survivors of sex trafficking and all efforts to end commercial sexual exploitation. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Honorable David Y. Ige, Governor; Honorable Mitchell D. Roth, Mayor; and Farshad Talebi, State Human Trafficking Coordinator, Department of the Attorney General. Dated at _____________, Hawai‘i, this ______ day of ___________________, 20___. INTRODUCED BY: _______________________________________ COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawai‘i Hilo, Hawai‘i ROLL CALL VOTE    AYES NOES ABS EX   CHUNG       DAVID       I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawai‘i on _____________________________________. INABA       KĀNEALI‘I-KLEINFELDER       KIERKIEWICZ       KIMBALL      ATTEST: LEE LOY       RICHARDS       VILLEGAS              Reference:  COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO.