President of the United States, Barack Obama has reiterated his plan to crack down on traffickers leading by example in the year 2014.
A press release issued by the White House on Tuesday, December 31, 2013 revealed that the administration is deploying new technology among others to fight the international crime. Obama said: “We are deploying new technology in the fight against human trafficking, developing the Federal Government’s first-ever strategic action plan to strengthen victim services, and strengthening protections against human trafficking in Federal contracts.”
The president, who called on every individual, community, and nation worldwide, emphasized the need to address the challenges that promotes slavery. According to him, “We must develop economies that create legitimate jobs, build a global sense of justice that says no child should ever be exploited, and empower our daughters and sons with the same chances to pursue their dreams.”
In his declaration of January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month, he encouraged businesses, national and community organizations, faith-based groups, families, and all Americans to recognize “the vital role we can play in ending all forms of slavery and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.”
He noted that the declaration is in line with President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation over a century and half years ago when children were forced to take part in armed conflict or sold to brothels by their destitute families, men and women who toil for little or no pay, who are threatened and beaten if they try to escape. “Slavery tears at our social fabric, fuels violence and organized crime, and debases our common humanity,” he added.
During the past year, the president said that the White House has hosted events on combating human trafficking, bringing together leaders from every sector of society, who came up with new ideas to fight trafficking at the national and grassroots levels.
“Let us declare as one that slavery has no place in our world, and let us finally restore to all people the most basic rights of freedom, dignity, and justice,” he said.
The National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month will be culminating in the annual celebration of National Freedom Day on February 1.
Read the full Presidential Proclamation at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/12/31/presidential-proclamation-national-slavery-and-human-trafficking-prevent