[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 8, 2019)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 79-80]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-00049]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 84 , No. 5 / Tuesday, January 8, 2019 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 79]]


                Proclamation 9835 of December 31, 2018

                
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention 
                Month, 2019

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery. It is 
                not enough merely to denounce this horrific assault on 
                human dignity; we must actively work to prevent and end 
                this barbaric exploitation of innocent victims. During 
                National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention 
                Month, we pledge to continue the battle to abolish 
                modern slavery and restore the lives of those affected 
                by human trafficking.

                Human trafficking harms adults and children of all ages 
                and demographics. Through force, fraud, and coercion, 
                traffickers push their victims into demeaning forms of 
                abuse, including domestic servitude and commercial 
                sexual exploitation. These crimes often remain hidden 
                because victims are reluctant to seek help for a 
                variety of reasons, including language barriers, fear 
                of traffickers and law enforcement, and lack of trust. 
                Human trafficking destroys precious lives and threatens 
                our Nation's security, public health, and the rule of 
                law. It is a scourge on the global community.

                We are morally obligated to confront and defeat the 
                abhorrent practice of human trafficking, and I am 
                keeping my pledge to take aggressive action. In 
                February of 2017, I signed an Executive Order to 
                dismantle transnational criminal organizations that 
                traffic and exploit people. I have made it a top 
                priority to fully secure our Nation's Southwest border, 
                including through the continued construction of a 
                physical wall, so that we can stop human trafficking 
                and stem the flow of deadly drugs and criminals into 
                our country. And my Administration is negotiating tough 
                forced-labor provisions in our new trade agreements, 
                including in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, 
                or USMCA.

                In April of 2018, I was proud to sign into law the 
                ``Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex 
                Trafficking Act of 2017'', landmark legislation to 
                fight online sex trafficking. This legislation makes it 
                easier to take legal action against individuals who use 
                websites to facilitate sex trafficking, helping victims 
                seek justice against the websites that profit from 
                their exploitation. It also clarifies that those who 
                benefit from knowingly assisting, supporting, or 
                facilitating an act of sex trafficking are in violation 
                of Federal law.

                At my direction, Federal departments and agencies are 
                ensuring full enforcement of our laws so that those who 
                seek to exploit our people and break our laws receive 
                the full measure of justice they deserve. In 2017 
                alone, the Department of Justice secured convictions 
                against more than 500 defendants in human trafficking 
                cases and the Federal Bureau of Investigation 
                dismantled more than 42 criminal enterprises engaged in 
                child sex trafficking. The Department of Homeland 
                Security initiated more than 800 human trafficking 
                cases, resulting in at least 1,500 arrests and 530 
                convictions. The Department of Health and Human 
                Services modernized the National Human Trafficking 
                Hotline. The Department of Transportation recently 
                established an Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking 
                to assist State and local transportation stakeholders 
                in developing best practices for combating human

[[Page 80]]

                trafficking. And my Interagency Task Force to Monitor 
                and Combat Trafficking in Persons is working tirelessly 
                to prosecute traffickers and protect human trafficking 
                victims. The task force has also enhanced collaboration 
                with other nations, businesses, and survivors of human 
                trafficking.

                Under my Administration, the Federal Government will 
                continue to play a leading role in the fight against 
                human trafficking. But all Americans can help in this 
                effort by recognizing key indicators that can 
                potentially save a life. Public awareness and education 
                are critical, especially for those most likely to 
                encounter perpetrators of enslavement and their 
                victims, such as healthcare professionals, law 
                enforcement officers, social services providers, and 
                educators. Through the Department of Homeland 
                Security's Blue Campaign, citizens can learn to 
                identify victims, report suspected instances of 
                trafficking, and bring those who exploit others to 
                justice.

                As a Nation, we cherish and uphold the notion that all 
                people are created with inherent dignity and entitled 
                to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Human 
                trafficking and enslavement robs victims of these God-
                given endowments. Modern slavery in all its 
                manifestations is a blight on humanity and an affront 
                to our fundamental values. We will not rest until we 
                eradicate this evil.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, 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 2019 as 
                National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention 
                Month, culminating in the annual observation of 
                National Freedom Day on February 1, 2019. I call upon 
                industry associations, law enforcement, private 
                businesses, faith-based and other organizations of 
                civil society, schools, families, and all Americans to 
                recognize our vital roles in ending all forms of modern 
                slavery and to observe this month with appropriate 
                programs and activities aimed at ending and preventing 
                all forms of human trafficking.

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

[FR Doc. 2019-00049
Filed 1-7-19; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F9-P