National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month

In 2011 President Barack Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation, designating each January to be National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The anniversary of this proclamation became known as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

Slavery was officially abolished in the USA by the Thirteenth Amendment in December 1865 however sadly human trafficking is growing at an alarming rate and despite the USA being a first world country, human trafficking has become a lucrative business for some members of our society.

The victims affected and forced into modern day slavery can be of foreign nationalities or the citizens of the USA, but they are all subjected to the horrific injustices of human trafficking, including sex trafficking, forced labor, involuntary servitude, forced marriage and debt bondage.

Many of the anti trafficking organizations arrange awareness raising campaigns all year round, but particularly in January when this awareness day is recognized and publicity is at its peak.  It is important to know the signs of human trafficking and who you can contact should your suspicions be raised.   The National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline, a resource that anyone can call to submit a tip about potential incidents of trafficking, received 20,424 calls and had 5,748 cases of trafficking reported in 2016 alone with figures increasing every year.  Help raise awareness and potentially save peoples lives by educating yourself more about the despicable act of human trafficking and what you can do if you suspect anyone of being a victim or organizer of this terrifying act.

Learn more at Human Rights First.

Article 16: Right to Marry & to Found a Family

Most of the 30 Articles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) begin with gender-free language: “Everyone,” “All” or “No One.  But Article 16 states that “men and women” have the right to marry, with the women drafters of the UDHR succeeding in their determination that it should spell out clearly that women had equal rights in marriage, given there was still very widespread discrimination in matters relating to marriage at the time.

Article 12: Right to Privacy

Privacy is often asserted as a “gateway” right that reinforces other rights, online and offline, including the right to equality and non-discrimination, and freedom of expression and assembly.