[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 26, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S3626]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SENATE RESOLUTION 318--RAISING AWARENESS OF MODERN DAY SLAVERY

  Mrs. BLACKBURN submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 318

       Whereas it is estimated that tens of millions of children, 
     women, and men around the world are subjected to conditions 
     of modern day slavery;
       Whereas it is estimated that human trafficking, both sex 
     trafficking and forced labor, generate more than 
     $150,000,000,000 in illicit profits for the traffickers and 
     those who help facilitate the crime;
       Whereas the International Labour Organization 2021 Global 
     Estimates Report indicates there are 49,600,000 people in 
     modern day slavery, including 27,600,000 in forced labor and 
     22,000,000 in forced marriage;
       Whereas the 2021 Global Estimates Report indicates modern 
     day slavery is only rising, increasing by more than 9,000,000 
     since 2016;
       Whereas, despite being outlawed in every nation, modern day 
     slavery exists around the world, including in the United 
     States;
       Whereas, out of the 28,000,000 people trapped in forced 
     labor, 17,300,000 people are exploited in the private sector, 
     6,300,000 people are in forced commercial sexual 
     exploitation, and 3,900,000 people are in forced labor 
     imposed by state authorities;
       Whereas, around the world, 55 percent of forced labor 
     victims are women or girls;
       Whereas more than 12,000,000 of the individuals trapped in 
     modern day slavery are children;
       Whereas an estimated 22,000,000 people were living in 
     forced marriage on any given day in 2021, with women and 
     girls making up 14,900,000 of the total;
       Whereas the Department of State 2022 Trafficking in Persons 
     Report identifies governments with a ``documented `policy or 
     pattern' of human trafficking, trafficking in government-
     funded programs, forced labor in government-affiliated 
     medical services or other sectors, sexual slavery in 
     government camps, or the employment or recruitment of child 
     soldiers,'' including the Governments of Afghanistan, Burma, 
     the People's Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, the 
     Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Russia, South Sudan, 
     Syria, and Turkmenistan;
       Whereas the People's Republic of China's government 
     policies are separating 800,000 to 900,000 Tibetan children 
     from their families and communities to eliminate Tibetan 
     identity and supplant it with a Chinese nationalist identity 
     to neutralize any resistance to Chinese Community Party rule;
       Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China's 
     exploits and profits from over 1,000,000 Uyghurs detained and 
     subjected to forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous 
     Region;
       Whereas there are reports of Ukrainians being forcibly 
     removed to remote areas of Russia;
       Whereas the International Criminal Court issues arrest 
     warrants for Russian officials for the kidnapping and 
     deportation of Ukrainian children;
       Whereas the Washington Institute for Defense and Security 
     report on modern day slavery indicates that displaced 
     Ukrainian women are being forced into sex slavery and 
     domestic servitude;
       Whereas the Trafficking in Persons Report indicates that 
     forced labor is part of an established system of political 
     repression and a pillar of the economic system in the 
     Democratic People's Republic of Korea;
       Whereas North Koreans are systematically forced into labor 
     overseas, primarily in Russia and China, in violation of 
     United Nations Security Council resolutions;
       Whereas the Trafficking in Persons Report indicates that 
     the Government of Iran condones and, in some cases, directly 
     facilitates sex trafficking of Iranian adults and children;
       Whereas human trafficking, modern day slavery, and forced 
     labor are evil and stand at the center of global and national 
     security concerns;
       Whereas the United States Government, along with 
     international allies, organizations, and private sector 
     businesses, is working to prevent forced labor and modern day 
     slavery in global supply chains;
       Whereas, every year since 2010, the President of the United 
     States has designated the month of January as ``National 
     Human Trafficking Prevention Month''; and
       Whereas the United Nations recognizes July 30 as ``World 
     Day against Trafficking in Persons'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates July 30, 2023, as World Day against 
     Trafficking in Persons;
       (2) commends each individual who supported the month of 
     January as ``National Human Trafficking Prevention Month'';
       (3) notes the dedication of individuals, organizations, and 
     governments to end modern day slavery; and
       (4) calls for concerted, international action to bring an 
     end to modern day slavery around the world.

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