WHEREAS, human trafficking is a form of exploitation that involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act; and

WHEREAS, the Governor's Council to Combat Human Trafficking in Arizona has made significant strides in the areas of public awareness, victim services, data collection, and training to protect Arizona against this crime; and

WHEREAS, the Governor's Council to Combat Human Trafficking in Arizona has provided training on how to identify, report, and respond to victims of trafficking to more than 65,000 professionals and community members statewide; and

WHEREAS, in February 2023, the State of Arizona launched its Human Trafficking Tip Line at the Arizona Department of Public Safety; and

WHEREAS, since its February 2023 launch, the State of Arizona Human Trafficking Tip Line has received 541 calls; and

WHEREAS, I signed HB2897, allocating funding for programs that reduce human trafficking; and

WHEREAS, human trafficking can happen in any community, and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality; and

WHEREAS, in the case of child sex trafficking, a child cannot legally consent to commercial sex; and

WHEREAS, it is estimated that 50 million people globally are exploited in situations of modern slavery on any given day; and

WHEREAS, traffickers often use violence or fraudulent employment agencies and fake promises of education and job opportunities to trick and coerce their victims; and

WHEREAS, in 2023 the National Human Trafficking Hotline received 7,380 calls from victims or survivors of human trafficking nationally; and

WHEREAS, the 2023 Youth Experiences Survey found that of Arizona youth, approximately 1 in 4 reported experiencing sex trafficking, and 1 in 3 reported experiencing labor trafficking; and

WHEREAS, Arizona is committed to ensuring it is a zero-tolerance state for any form of human trafficking, to holding traffickers and buyers accountable, to protecting victims' rights, and to restoring their freedom.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Katie Hobbs, Governor of the State of Arizona, do hereby proclaim January 2025, as

HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH

and call upon all government agencies, public and private institutions, businesses, hospitals, colleges, schools, parents, and citizens in the state of Arizona to support victims and survivors and take a stand against all forms of human, sex, and labor trafficking. If you think you may be a victim and need resources or to report suspected trafficking behavior, please contact the Arizona Human Trafficking Tip Line at 1-877-4-AZTIPS or online at azactic.gov

IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  I have hereunto set my hand and caused to
be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Arizona

GOVERNOR

DONE at the Capitol in Phoenix on this twenty-third day of 
December in the year Two Thousand and Twenty-Four and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the Two Hundred and 
Forty-Ninth.

ATTEST:

SECRETARY OF STATE

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