6.1. SR 01-06-2020 E04y1� ,.,�� Request for Action
River
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 6.1
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Presentations,Awards, January 6, 2020 Cal Portner, City Administrator
Recognition
Item Description Reviewed by
Proclaim January as National Human Trafficking
Awareness and Prevention Month and January 11 Reviewed by
as Human Trafficking Awareness Da
Action Requested
1. Mayor to read the proclamation.
2. Proclaim,by motion,January as National Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month and
January 11, 2020, as Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
Background/Discussion
Dave Anderson of the Elk River Rotary Club has requested the City Council consider commemorating
January as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month and proclaim January 11, 2020, as Human
Trafficking Awareness Day.
Rotary International has added human trafficking awareness to its global initiatives along with the
eradication of Polio. Rotary Districts 5960 and 5950,which include Minnesota and the Elk River Rotary
Club, are beginning a strategic process to expedite the end of human trafficking in Minnesota and our
region.
Thus far, over 160 clubs representing over 5,000 Rotarians are working with organizations in their local
communities to end human trafficking one community at a time. Our local Rotary looks forward to
working with our local leaders to end it in our community and the first step in this quest is to raise
awareness of the issue-that impacts EVERY community.
Rotary has sought to eradicate polio for more than 30 years and as a founding partner of the Global Polio
Eradication Initiative, they have reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent since 1979 and have helped
immunize more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. In June, Rotary announced$100 million in
grants to finally eliminate worldwide polio. There were only 33 reported cases of the wild poliovirus in
2018. Rotarians worldwide expect to next eliminate human trafficking.
Financial Impact
N/A
Attachments
■ Proclamation
The Elk River Vision
A PehoMing community 2a itb revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional POWERED By
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity INAWRE1
City of
ElkProclamation
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Designating January 2020 as
Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month
WHEREAS, Human trafficking is a nationwide public health and civil rights crisis. Its victims and
survivors are everywhere,with each city and communityT being no exception; and
WHEREAS, Human Trafficking includes both forced labor and sex trafficking, and
WH EREAS, Anyone can be a victim. In the U.S.,it is estimated that 2-4 million victims are being
trafficked. 75% are exploited for sex. Almost half are children, and most are women and girls.Victims come
from all demographics. Traffickers target individuals who, for a varietyof reasons, are vulnerable; and
WHEREAS,Minnesota's Safe Harbor Law recognizes that any youth under the age of 18 who is exploited
through prostitution will no longer face criminal prosecution and will instead receive comprehensive and
trauma-informed services.These services are available to youth through age 24; and
WHEREAS, In Minnesota, the average age of participants served under Safe Harbor was 17.A slightly
higher percentage of youth served were in greater Minnesota (54%) compared to the metro area (46%).
Most participants were female (91%),while 6%identified as male and 3% as transgender,gender non-
conforming and other. More than half(59%) of participants were people of color; and
WHEREAS, Rotary=International, specifically Rotary=Districts 5950, 5960 and 5580 are striving to increase
awareness and promote prevention. The mission of the Initiative is to End Human Trafficking in
communities in Minnesota,Wisconsin, North Dakota and parts of Ontario (regions covered by Rotary=
Districts 5950, 5960, and 5580). We will coordinate mobilizing Rotarians in clubs throughout the region to
engage their communities in this issue; and
WHEREAS, Our initiatives focus on: raising awareness, educating children and youth, reducing risk
factors that make children and youth vulnerable, and stopping the demand; and
WHEREAS, All communities must seek to prevent human trafficking before it can occur, by promoting
safe, healthy, and supportive environments by changing the culture of acceptance of this evil.
WHEREAS,January=was first declared as National Slavery=and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in
2010 and Human Trafficking Awareness Day is observed every year on January 11 by Presidential
Proclamation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I,John J. Dietz,Mayor of Elk River, do hereby
proclaim January=as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month and January=11,2020, as Human
Trafficking Awareness Day.
John J. Dietz,Mayor
ATTEST:
Tina Allard, City Clerk