Senate Resolution No. 2503

BY: Senator BIAGGI

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
January 11, 2020, as Wear Blue Day in the State of
New York, in conjunction with the observance of
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention
Month

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days and months that are set aside to increase awareness of
serious issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim January 11, 2020, as
Wear Blue Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month;
and

WHEREAS, Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign
designed to educate the public, law enforcement and other industry
partners to recognize the indicators of human trafficking, and how to
appropriately respond to possible cases; and

WHEREAS, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is recognized each
year on January 11th; in recognition of this important day, Blue
Campaign hosts a social media campaign called Wear Blue Day; and

WHEREAS, To raise awareness of human trafficking, New Yorkers are
encouraged to take photos of themselves, friends, family, and colleagues
wearing blue clothing and share them on social media, along with the
Wear Blue Day hashtag; and

WHEREAS, In addition, they can share a video explaining why they are
participating in the Wear Blue Day, organize a Challenge such as a
creative photo competition, light up a landmark, or host an event and
encourage participants to wear blue; and

WHEREAS, In 2007, an interagency task force was created which was
dedicated to evaluating the current circumstances of the existence of
human trafficking in the State of New York, with the lasting resolve to
bolster existing response infrastructures, while creating strategies to
aid victims and increase public awareness of the issue, including and
beyond the recognition of Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month;
and

WHEREAS, Beginning in 2010, by Presidential Proclamation, each
January has been designated as National Slavery and Human Trafficking
Prevention Month; and

WHEREAS, Following the start of National Slavery and Human
Trafficking Prevention Month, with the help of non-government
organizations, National Human Trafficking Day began and is observed
annually on January 11th; and

WHEREAS, The State of New York, was, in 2018, the state fourth-most
plagued by the scourge of sexual and labor trafficking of individuals of
all ages, as recognized by the Polaris Project, a leading
non-government, non-profit voice in the global march towards the
eradication of human trafficking, which equates with modern slavery; and

WHEREAS, The number of sexual and labor trafficking cases reported
each year continues to grow as more light is given to the issue by
various actors in New York, across the United States, and around the
globe; and

WHEREAS, In 2018, 492 cases of human trafficking were reported to
the Human Trafficking Hotline in the State of New York, which is more
than 4% of the 10,949 cases reported across the United States; and

WHEREAS, The scope and magnitude of the issue of slavery and human
trafficking is yet to be known, both domestically and abroad; and

WHEREAS, Human Trafficking Awareness Month was implemented to raise
awareness among Americans that human trafficking does not just happen in
other countries, but in states and communities across the United States;
and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious issue, and more must be done to eradicate slavery and human
trafficking at the local, State and national levels; now, therefore, be
it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim January 11, 2020, as
Wear Blue Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.