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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 511
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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, |
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and more; and |
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WHEREAS, Organizations such as International Justice |
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Mission, Polaris Project, UnBound, and Shared Hope International |
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work every day to secure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, |
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to bring perpetrators to justice, and to ensure that public |
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justice systems, including law enforcement, courts, and laws, |
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are effectively 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 |
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the scourge of human trafficking and slavery, both within its |
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borders and in neighboring regions; moreover, the state secures |
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high-quality data to assess the problem through the |
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unprecedented Texas Slavery Mapping Project; and |
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WHEREAS, Texans from all walks of life, including |
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students,businessowners,andpastorsandotherpeopleoffaith |
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and conscience, have demonstrated support for developing, |
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funding, and promoting effective antitrafficking and antislavery |
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measures, including rescue, safe houses, and aftercare for |
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victims, as well as prosecution and strong repercussions for |
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perpetrators; residents also advocate for educational |
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initiatives and for the enactment of antitrafficking and |
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antislavery laws in the state, in the nation, and throughout the |
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developing world; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize April 10, 2015, as Texas Ending |
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Modern Slavery Day and commend the officials and organizations |
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dedicated to helping victims and preventing the victimization of |
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others. |
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Taylor of Galveston |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on April 9, 2015. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |