HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-12-2007-3cORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 12, 2007
Action Agenda
Item No. ~ - ~.
SUBJECT: Resolution Supporting Efforts to End Human Trafficking in North. Carolina
DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
05/10/07 CFW Recommendation
05/14/07 HRC Recommendation
Resolution
INFORMATION CONTACT:
James Spivey, 968-2288
PURPOSE: To consider adoption of a resolution that supports efforts to end human trafficking
in North Carolina.
BACKGROUND: Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery in which women, children,
and men are exploited for commercial sex and labor purposes. Human trafficking is currently
the second largest criminal industry in the world after drug dealing.
North Carolina's location on the I-95 corridor, large military bases, ever-increasing immigrant
population and demand for immigrant labor. creates an ideal environment for human ,trafficking.
Orange County is a prime area for human traffickers to locate due to the unique urban (close to
major urban centers) and suburban (remote residential areas with many mobile home parks)
geography.
Currently there are two anti-trafficking bills being considered by the North Carolina General
Assembly.
During the May 10, 2007 Commission for Women meeting and during the May 14, 2007 Human
Relations Commission meeting, the respective memberships recommended that the Board of
County Commissioners adopt the attached resolution which supports efforts to end human
trafficking in North Carolina.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the resolution and
authorize the Chair to sign it.
a
COID1h115S10M for WOfD721~
RECOMMENDATION
May 10, 2007
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN
NORTH CAROLINA
WHEREAS, human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery in which men, women, and
children are exploited for commercial sex and labor purposes; and
WHEREAS, human trafficking is currently the second largest criminal industry in the world after
drug dealing, and is the fastest growing; and
WHEREAS, victims of human trafficking can frequently be found in domestic labor situations,
sweatshop factories, construction, farm work, hotel, restaurant and tourist industries, janitorial
work, and the commercial sex industry; and
WHEREAS, traffickers use force, fraud and coercion to draw victims into lives of servitude and
abuse, frequently subjecting victims to rape, beatings, confinement, debt bondage, involuntary
servitude, and psychological and emotional abuse; and
WHEREAS, systematic approaches to detecting trafficking, creating protocols for assisting
victims, providing services to trafficking victims, and holding traffickers accountable are all
crucial steps in eradicating trafficking; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Congress responded to the problem of human trafficking by passing the
Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, a comprehensive statute designed to
hold traffickers accountable and provide services for trafficking victims; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina's location on the I-95 corridor, large military bases, large immigrant
population and demand for immigrant labor creates an environment hospitable to trafficking in
our area; and
WHEREAS, U.S. government studies estimate that approximately 800,000 persons are trafficked
across international borders each year, with 18,000 to 20,000 persons trafficked into the United
States and thousands more trafficked domestically; and
WHEREAS, the F:B.I. estimates that 23% of those trafficked into the United States are trafficked
into the southeast; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly of North Carolina passed House Bill 1896 into law in
August, 2006, which addresses human trafficking and sexual servitude by increasing criminal
penalties, especially for those individuals who harbor children; and
3
WHEREAS, there are currently two anti-trafficking bills -Senate Bill 1079, sponsored by
Senator Ellie Kinnaird, and House Bill 974 -being considered by the North Carolina General
Assembly;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Orange County Board of County
Commissioners supports efforts locally, statewide, and nationally to combat human trafficking,
including asking local state legislators to support the current legislation.
This the day of , 2007.
L~v~d~vKe~/~ os/10/07
LINDA ICY, Nice-Chair dote
•I-IZih~l~(4I~ 9~,~~~`C[OI~~ ~Oh~I1~lI~~IOI~ 4
RECOMMENDATION
MONDAY, MAY 14, 2007
MOTION WAS MADE BY BRYANT COLSON AND SECONDED BY JOSEPHIE HARRIS
THAT THE HRC RECOMMENDS THAT THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN NORTH
CAROLINA
WHEREAS, human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery in which men, women, and children are exploited
for commercial sex and labor purposes; and
WHEREAS, human trafficking is currently the second largest criminal industry in the world after drug dealing, and
is the fastest growing; and
WHEREAS, victims of human trafficking can frequently be found in domestic labor situations, sweatshop factories,
construction, farm work, hotel, restaurant and tourist industries, janitorial work, and the commercial sex
industry; and
WHEREAS, traffickers use force, fraud and coercion to draw victims into lives of servitude and abuse, frequently
subjecting victims to rape, beatings, confinement, debt bondage, involuntary servitude, and psychological and
emotional abuse; and
WHEREAS, systematic approaches to detecting trafficking, creating protocols for assisting victims, providing
services to trafficking victims, and holding traffickers accountable are all crucial steps in eradicating
trafficking; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Congress responded to the problem of human trafficking by passing the Victims of
Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, a comprehensive statute designed to hold traffickers
accountable and provide services for trafficking victims; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina's location on the I-95 corridor, large military bases, large immigrant population and
demand for immigrant labor creates an enviromnent hospitable to trafficking in our area; and
WHEREAS, U.S. government studies estimate that approximately 800,000 persons are trafficked across
international borders each year, with 18,000 to 20,000 persons trafficked into the United States and thousands
more trafficked domestically; and
WHEREAS, the F.B.I. estimates that 23% of those trafficked into the United States are trafficked into the
southeast; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly of North Carolina passed House Bill 1896 into law in August, 2006, which
addresses ,human trafficking and sexual servitude by increasing criminal penalties, especially for those
individuals who harbor children; and
WHEREAS, there are currently two anti-trafficking bills -Senate Bill 1079, sponsored by Senator Ellie Kinnaird,
and House Bi11974 -being considered by the North Carolina General Assembly;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners supports efforts
locally, statewide, and nationally to combat human trafficking, including asking local state legislators to support the
current legislation.
This the
day of , 2007.
VOTE: AYES 11 (Colson, Chapman, Covington-Farrar, Grnamien, Harris, Hendrickson,
Ikenberry, Jeffries-Logan, Marotto, Smith, Vogt); NOES 0; EXCUSED 3 (Adams, Andrews,
Nanney).
~U~ffIZ ~~;e/?.~1UGC~ii3(l~fZ /-~i~ye.Y
WILLIAM HENDRICKSON, Glair 05/14/2007
THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO END HUMAN
TRAFFICKING IN NORTH CAROLINA
WHEREAS, human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery in which men,
women, and children are exploited for commercial sex and labor purposes; and
WHEREAS, human trafficking is currently the second largest criminal industry in
the world after drug dealing, and is the fastest growing; and
WHEREAS, victims of human trafficking can frequently be found in domestic
labor situations, sweatshop factories, construction, farm work, hotel, restaurant
and tourist industries, janitorial work, and the commercial sex industry; and
WHEREAS, traffickers use force, fraud and coercion to draw victims into lives of
servitude and abuse, frequently subjecting victims to rape, beatings,
confinement, debt bondage, involuntary servitude, and psychological and
emotional abuse; and
WHEREAS, systematic approaches to detecting trafficking, creating protocols for
assisting victims, providing services to trafficking victims, and holding traffickers
accountable are all crucial steps in eradicating trafficking; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Congress responded to the problem of human trafficking by
passing the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, a
comprehensive statute designed to hold traffickers accountable and provide
services for trafficking victims; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina's location on the I-95 corridor, large military bases,
large immigrant population and demand for immigrant labor creates an
environment hospitable to'trafficking in our area; and
WHEREAS, U.S. government studies estimate that approximately 800,000
persons are trafficked across international borders each year, with 18,000 to
20,000 persons trafficked into the United States and thousands more trafficked
domestically; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) estimates that 23% of
those trafficked into the United States are trafficked into the southeast; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly of North Carolina passed House Bill 1896
into law in August, 2006, which addresses human trafficking and sexual servitude
by increasing criminal .penalties, especially for those individuals who harbor
children; and
6
WHEREAS, there are currently two anti-trafficking bills -Senate Bill 1079,
sponsored by Senator Ellie Kinnaird, and House Bill 974 -being considered by
the North Carolina General Assembly;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of
County Commissioners supports efforts locally, statewide, and nationally to
combat. human trafficking, including asking local state legislators to support the
current legislation.
This the 12th day of June 2007.
Moses Carey, Jr., Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners