National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
US Presidential Proclamation
In proclaiming January 2014 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the US President Barack Obama declared, “Over a century and a half after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, millions remain in bondage — children 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.” While recognising modern-day slavery is a global tragedy and combating it requires international action he urged all Americans to renew their commitment to ending this scourge in all its forms.
Read the full Presidential Proclamation here.
