PROCLAMATION

OF THE PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION

WHEREAS, Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons, includes both forced

labor and sex trafficking; and

HEREAS, Human trafficking robs millions of their dignity and freedom, enriches

transnational criminals and terrorists, represents a threat to international peace

and security, and undermines the rule of law; and

WHEREAS, the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 called for the United States

to combat human trafficking domestically and internationally; and

HEREAS, in 2010 President Obama declared January “National Slavery and Human

Trafficking Prevention Month” and every year since each president has followed

this tradition; and

WHEREAS, the Port of Seattle has joined the fight to end human trafficking through multi-

year efforts at SEA including bystander training for Port employees and victim

self-rescue tools; and

WHEREAS, during the Port’s 2021 budget process, Commissioner Cho championed $300,000

in the budget to provide essential resources for the Port’s anti-human trafficking

efforts; and

HEREAS, the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded its 2022 Combating Human

Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award and a $50,000 cash prize to SEA’s

United Against Human Trafficking proposal to convene a national steering

committee of up to 20 diverse airports and scale the Port of Seattle’s counter-

trafficking approach into an awareness toolkit for use by airports nationwide; and

WHEREAS, the Port has convened an anti-human trafficking work group comprised of

employees from Aviation, Maritime, and Corporate/Central Services, which has

presented recommendations for a proposed spending plan for these resources; and

WHEREAS, recommendations from the anti-human trafficking workgroup were crafted to

ensure every division of the Port’s operations bolsters the Port’s anti-human

trafficking efforts; recommendations were organized via the Port’s four pillars to

combat human trafficking: policy and procedural change, training for employees

at Port facilities, public awareness campaign, and partnerships to amplify anti-

trafficking efforts; and

HEREAS, the Port’s planned anti-human trafficking activities in 2023 include rolling out a

Portwide pledge inviting tenants to become allies in our efforts to combat human

trafficking, a refreshed public awareness campaign, and additional events

throughout the Port intended to grow awareness with Port employees, Port

tenants, or deepen partnerships with Port partners such as other public agencies.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Port of Seattle Commission hereby recognizes January as Human

Trafficking Prevention Month. The Port also commits to expand our ongoing efforts to eliminate

the scourge of human trafficking across the operations of our entire organization.

Proclaimed by the Port of Seattle Commission this tenth day of January, 2023.

Port of Seattle Commission