Title
To recognize January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month and to acknowledge Barbara Freeman for her advocacy to end human trafficking through empowerment and awareness
Explanation
WHEREAS, Every year an increasing number of people fall victim to human trafficking as it is one of the fastest growing illegal trades both around the world and here in Central Ohio; and
WHEREAS, Human Trafficking is an estimated multi-billion dollar a year international enterprise in which 1,078 Ohio children become victims and over 3000 more are at risk; and
WHEREAS, Victims of human trafficking need support in order to escape and to recover from the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual trauma associated with their victimization; and
WHEREAS, Human traffickers use many physical and psychological techniques to control their victims, including the use of violence or threats of violence against the victim or the victim’s family, isolation from the public, language and cultural barriers, threats of arrest, deportation, as well as other control tactics; and
WHEREAS, Ohio has been dedicated to eliminate human trafficking and in 2014, Ohio rescued 181 victims and arrested 98 traffickers but there is still more work to be done; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Freeman knows darkness, desperation and depravity as a result of being forced into sex trafficking during her teen years; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Freeman emerged as one of the first graduates of the CATCH Court started by Judge Paul Herbert of the Franklin County Municipal Court, and has since founded The Freeman Project, an initiative designed to fight human trafficking and addiction; and
WHEREAS, For her advocacy efforts, Ms. Freeman was honored by induction into the 29th YWCA Women of Achievement class; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Freeman’s efforts to promote Human Trafficking Awareness in the City of Columbus, represent her commitment to the eradication of human trafficking, Now therefore;
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council recognizes the importance of raising awareness of and opposition to human trafficking, and does hereby recognize the month of January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.