Co-Sponsorship Request: Stand Together Against Human Trafficking
Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2024 12:09 pm
Colleagues,
During a recent meeting I had with the Austin Police Department's Human Trafficking Unit, I was deeply disturbed to learn about the heartbreaking case of a teenage girl who was trafficked from out of state to Austin. She was groomed online for over a year before being lured into this nightmare. Thankfully, the teenager was recovered by the Austin Police Department. However, this tragic incident underscores the critical need for action related to combating human trafficking in our community.
In response to this experience, I drafted a robust resolution that aims to tackle human trafficking from multiple angles. It seeks to educate parents about the dangers of online grooming and human trafficking, providing them with the tools to protect their children from falling prey to these predators through partnerships with schools. Additionally, it calls for the establishment of safe emergency housing for trafficking victims, comprehensive training programs for hotel staff to identify and respond to trafficking situations, and enhanced resources for law enforcement to investigate and combat trafficking effectively.
Human trafficking is not merely a crime; it is a pervasive and insidious form of exploitation that inflicts devastating physical, emotional, and psychological harm on its victims. As council members, we must combat this heinous crime and protect the vulnerable members of our community.
As policymakers, we must take swift action when we feel called. I urge your support for the following resolution I authored, addressing the urgent issue of human trafficking in our city.
Resolution Draft: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 112109.pdf
As festival season approaches, it's crucial to acknowledge a troubling trend: major events like the ones hosted in Austin are vulnerable to human trafficking activity. This unfortunate reality underscores the urgency of our efforts to combat trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals during these times.
I am proud to have Council Members Jose Velásquez and Alison Alter as cosponsors, and I invite each of you to join us in this vital and timely endeavor as additional co-sponsors.
Together, we can take a stand against human trafficking and create a safer, more resilient Austin for everyone.
Thank you for your consideration.
Warm Regards,
mk
During a recent meeting I had with the Austin Police Department's Human Trafficking Unit, I was deeply disturbed to learn about the heartbreaking case of a teenage girl who was trafficked from out of state to Austin. She was groomed online for over a year before being lured into this nightmare. Thankfully, the teenager was recovered by the Austin Police Department. However, this tragic incident underscores the critical need for action related to combating human trafficking in our community.
In response to this experience, I drafted a robust resolution that aims to tackle human trafficking from multiple angles. It seeks to educate parents about the dangers of online grooming and human trafficking, providing them with the tools to protect their children from falling prey to these predators through partnerships with schools. Additionally, it calls for the establishment of safe emergency housing for trafficking victims, comprehensive training programs for hotel staff to identify and respond to trafficking situations, and enhanced resources for law enforcement to investigate and combat trafficking effectively.
Human trafficking is not merely a crime; it is a pervasive and insidious form of exploitation that inflicts devastating physical, emotional, and psychological harm on its victims. As council members, we must combat this heinous crime and protect the vulnerable members of our community.
As policymakers, we must take swift action when we feel called. I urge your support for the following resolution I authored, addressing the urgent issue of human trafficking in our city.
Resolution Draft: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 112109.pdf
As festival season approaches, it's crucial to acknowledge a troubling trend: major events like the ones hosted in Austin are vulnerable to human trafficking activity. This unfortunate reality underscores the urgency of our efforts to combat trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals during these times.
I am proud to have Council Members Jose Velásquez and Alison Alter as cosponsors, and I invite each of you to join us in this vital and timely endeavor as additional co-sponsors.
Together, we can take a stand against human trafficking and create a safer, more resilient Austin for everyone.
Thank you for your consideration.
Warm Regards,
mk