Presidential Documents

587 

Federal Register 

Vol. 83, No. 3 

Thursday, January 4, 2018 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 9688 of December 29, 2017 

National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, 

2018 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we recommit ourselves to eradicating the evil of enslavement. Human trafficking 

is a modern form of the oldest and most barbaric type of exploitation. 

It has no place in our world. This month we do not simply reflect on 

this appalling reality. We also pledge to do all in our power to end the 

horrific practice of human trafficking that plagues innocent victims around 

the world. 

Human trafficking is a sickening crime at odds with our very humanity. 

An estimated 25 million people are currently victims of human trafficking 

for both sex and labor. Human traffickers prey on their victims by promising 

a life of hope and greater opportunity, while delivering only enslavement. 

Instead of delivering people to better lives, traffickers unjustifiably profit 

from the labor and toil of their victims, who they force—through violence 

and intimidation—to work in brothels and factories, on farms and fishing 

vessels, in private homes, and in countless industries. 

My Administration continues to work to drive out the darkness human 

traffickers cast upon our world. In February, I signed an Executive Order 

to dismantle transnational criminal organizations, including those that perpetuate the crime of human trafficking. My Interagency Task Force to Monitor 

and Combat Trafficking in Persons has enhanced collaboration with other 

nations, businesses, civil society organizations, and survivors of human trafficking. The Department of Health and Human Services has established 

a new national training and technical assistance center to strengthen our 

healthcare industry’s anti-trafficking response. The Department of State has 

contributed $25 million to the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery, because 

of the critical need for cross-nation collaborative action to counter human 

trafficking. The Department of Labor has released an innovative, businessfocused mobile app that supports private-sector efforts to eradicate forced 

labor from global supply chains. And this month, I will sign into law 

S. 1536, the Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act 

and S. 1532, the No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act. These bills 

will keep those who commit trafficking offenses from operating commercial 

vehicles, improve anti-human trafficking coordination within Federal agencies and across State and local governments, and improve efforts to recognize, 

prevent, and report human trafficking. 

In addition to these governmental actions, Americans must learn how to 

identify and combat the evil of enslavement. This is especially important 

for those who are most likely to encounter the perpetrators of slavery and 

their victims, including healthcare providers, educators, law enforcement 

officials, and social services professionals. Through the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign, all Americans can learn to recognize the 

signs of human trafficking and how to report suspected instances. By taking 

steps to become familiar with the telltale signs of traffickers or the signals 

of their victims, Americans can save innocent lives. 


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588 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 3 / Thursday, January 4, 2018 / Presidential Documents 

Our Nation is and will forever be a place that values and protects human 

life and dignity. This month, let us redouble our efforts to ensure that 

modern day slavery comes to its long overdue end. 

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 2018 as 

National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, culminating 

in the annual celebration of National Freedom Day on February 1, 2018. 

I call upon industry associations, law enforcement, private businesses, faithbased 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 twenty-ninth 

day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and 

of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred 

and forty-second. 

[FR Doc. 2018–00099 

Filed 1–3–18; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3295–F8–P 


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