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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Nearly 36 million people are held in some form of |
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slavery today, whether through commercial sexual exploitation, |
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forced labor, bonded labor, or coerced service as child soldiers, |
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and human trafficking is the second most profitable global crime, |
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generating more than $150 billion annually; and |
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WHEREAS, Four billion of the world's poorest people reside |
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outside the protection of the effective rule of law; they can be |
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readily exploited because of inept or corrupt public justice |
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systems, which permit not only human trafficking and modern |
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slavery, but also police brutality, rape, illegal land seizure, and |
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more; and |
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WHEREAS, Organizations such as International Justice |
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Mission, Polaris Project, and Shared Hope International work every |
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day to secure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to bring |
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perpetrators to justice, and to ensure that public justice systems, |
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including law enforcement, courts, and laws, are effectively |
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protecting people from heinous crimes; and |
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WHEREAS, In the United States, human traffickers have |
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utilized Texas as a conduit, destination, and launching point for |
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human trafficking and modern slavery; however, the state is a |
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national leader in introducing and enforcing laws that address the |
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scourge of human trafficking and slavery, both within its borders |
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and in neighboring regions; moreover, the state secures |
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high-quality data to assess the problem through the unprecedented |
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Texas Slavery Mapping Project; and |
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WHEREAS, Texans from all walks of life, including students, |
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business owners, and pastors and other people of faith and |
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conscience, have demonstrated support for developing, funding, and |
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promoting effective antitrafficking and antislavery measures, |
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including rescue, safe houses, and aftercare for victims, as well |
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as prosecution and strong repercussions for perpetrators; |
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residents also advocate for educational initiatives and for the |
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enactment of antitrafficking and antislavery laws in the state, in |
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the nation, and throughout the developing world; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize April 10, 2015, as Texas Ending Modern |
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Slavery Day and commend the officials and organizations dedicated |
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to helping victims and preventing the victimization of others. |