[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 7, 2014)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 751-752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00086]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 4 / Tuesday, January 7, 2014 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 751]]


                Proclamation 9074 of December 31, 2013

                
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention 
                Month, 2014

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Over a century and a half after President Abraham 
                Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, millions 
                remain in bondage--children forced to take part in 
                armed conflict or sold to brothels by their destitute 
                families, men and women who toil for little or no pay, 
                who are threatened and beaten if they try to escape. 
                Slavery tears at our social fabric, fuels violence and 
                organized crime, and debases our common humanity. 
                During National Slavery and Human Trafficking 
                Prevention Month, we renew our commitment to ending 
                this scourge in all its forms.

                Because modern-day slavery is a global tragedy, 
                combating it requires international action. The United 
                States is shining a spotlight on the dark corners where 
                it persists, placing sanctions on some of the worst 
                abusers, giving countries incentives to meet their 
                responsibilities, and partnering with groups that help 
                trafficking victims escape from their abusers' grip. We 
                are working with other nations as they step up their 
                own efforts, and we are seeing more countries pass 
                anti-human trafficking laws and improve enforcement.

                At home, we are leading by example. My Administration 
                is cracking down on traffickers, charging a record 
                number of perpetrators. We are deploying new technology 
                in the fight against human trafficking, developing the 
                Federal Government's first-ever strategic action plan 
                to strengthen victim services, and strengthening 
                protections against human trafficking in Federal 
                contracts. During the past year, the White House has 
                hosted events on combating human trafficking, bringing 
                together leaders from every sector of society. 
                Together, we came up with new ideas to fight 
                trafficking at the national and grassroots levels.

                As we work to dismantle trafficking networks and help 
                survivors rebuild their lives, we must also address the 
                underlying forces that push so many into bondage. We 
                must develop economies that create legitimate jobs, 
                build a global sense of justice that says no child 
                should ever be exploited, and empower our daughters and 
                sons with the same chances to pursue their dreams. This 
                month, I call on every nation, every community, and 
                every individual to fight human trafficking wherever it 
                exists. Let us declare as one that slavery has no place 
                in our world, and let us finally restore to all people 
                the most basic rights of freedom, dignity, and justice.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim January 2014 as 
                National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention 
                Month, culminating in the annual celebration of 
                National Freedom Day on February 1. I call upon 
                businesses, national and community organizations, 
                faith-based groups, families, and all Americans to 
                recognize the vital role we can play in ending all 
                forms of slavery and to observe this month with 
                appropriate programs and activities.

[[Page 752]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
                eighth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2014-00086
Filed 1-6-14; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F4