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Slavery and HT Prevention Month Statewide Events January 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, and 19

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It's my privilege to write to you at the start of 2023 and to announce major events to launch Iowa's 2023 observance of “Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month”. We invite you to join the Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery (NAHT) for these events and thereby join the movement to end human trafficking in Iowa. If you know of other statewide training or events please let me know.

Governor's Proclamation Declaring January 2023 Iowa Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

New Year 2023 greetings to our Iowa NAHT blog subscribers. Worldwide there are 50 million people trafficked and enslaved. That is a 10 million increase from just five years ago. Globally, one in four of these exploited and abused souls are under the age of 18.

So how can you as an individual help in 2023 to fight against human trafficking and slavery? As a first step, you can educate yourself about modern slavery and help others to become aware of this growing crime. You can insist that businesses check their supply chains for slavery-produced goods.

You can also ask local businesses to become an Iowa Business Against Trafficking (IBAT) member by going to https://ibat.iowa.gov. Since our Iowa Secretary of State launched this unique anti-trafficking program in January 2022, 620 businesses have already joined IBAT. We hope to double that number in 2023 but need your help.

January 2023 is an especially good time to learn the facts about trafficking. In recognition of Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, there are numerous Iowa events and training opportunities. These statewide events are and can be found in this NAHT blog post/newsletter.

You can also donate funds in 2023 to anti-trafficking organizations such as the Iowa NAHT. If you go to https://iowanaht.org/donate-now/ your gift to the Network can be completed quickly using your credit card or PayPal.

Iowa Capitol Building in the winterYou can urge your state representatives to propose and/or strengthen anti-trafficking laws. Tap here for the NAHT anti-trafficking legislative priorities for 2023 (PDF). Speaking to your local legislators gives you a great opportunity to join forces with the NAHT board and other allies from across Iowa to improve public policy. A good day to visit with your Iowa Representative and Senator would be Thursday, January 12th which is NAHT Day at the Legislature.

January 12, the NAHT will host the public signing of a proclamation by Governor Kim Reynolds designating January 2023 as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The proclamation signing will take place on Thursday, January 12th at 11:00 a.m. in the Rotunda of the State Capitol Building in Des Moines. All anti-trafficking advocates are invited to attend.

Outstanding Anti-Trafficking Service Awards will also be presented on January 12th immediately following the proclamation signing.

You can read about these six exceptional Iowa anti-trafficking heroes and organizations by tapping here: Outstanding Service Award Nominations (PDF)

Iowa Anti-Human Trafficking Day of Prayer on January 18, 2023

Melody Stone, founder of the North Iowa Anti-Trafficking Coalition, is inviting other anti-trafficking coalitions and all faith communities across Iowa to join the human trafficking day of prayer on January 18, 2023. For more information, please tap this link: State Human Trafficking Day of Prayer (PDF), and for an Iowa Day of Prayer Poster tap here (PDF).

To quote Melody,

We want this day of prayer to go viral so we need everyone to forward this information to your faith-community groups, family, friends, and social network. If anyone wants to be a host church, mosque, synagogue, etc., or location please have them contact me so we can support their efforts through our media connections, newspapers, radio, etc.

We are working hard to establish prayer teams in all 99 Iowa counties so please think about who you know and spread the word. It would be great if prayer partners email me at [email protected] so we can estimate how many across our state will be praying. Regardless of our numbers, we are excited to partner with fellow believers to pray about this urgently important issue!

Ask Your City Council to Adopt a Local January 2023 Proclamation

City Council Proclamation against human traffickingAnother important request to all Iowa anti-trafficking advocates is to approach your city council and/or county board of supervisors about declaring January 2023 as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. A copy of an example fill-in-the-blank proclamation that you could propose to be adopted is found by clicking here: Example Proclamation (PDF). The photo to the right was taken on January 3, 2023, of a proclamation signing at the Story County Board of Supervisors.

Once your city and county local governments vote to adopt the proclamation, they will publicly present it to you at a meeting. You can attend the meeting and interact with your council and/or supervisors. What a great way to create public and recognition of this growing problem across Iowa and within your own home community.  An example proclamation acceptance script for you to respond to your city council is found by clicking this link: Sample Acceptance Script (PDF).

Wednesday, January 11th is Wear Blue Day

Wear Blue January 11thOn Wednesday, January 11th we ask that you wear blue to show your support for human trafficking awareness. The color blue is the international color of human trafficking awareness. The created this initiative to draw attention to this horrific crime. The NAHT is asking all anti-trafficking advocates to wear blue clothing in order to increase awareness. We also ask you to encourage your friends, classmates, and family to participate and share pictures of you wearing blue on with the #WearBlueDay hashtag. You can find more information about this here: https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/wearblueday

Hotel/Motel Employee Trafficking Training

A Hotel/Motel employee training page is still live on the NAHT website. You can see it directly at https://iowanaht.org/hotel-training/ and/or get to it in the dropdown under the menu link in the top navigation. There you can access the NAHT Hotel/Motel Employee Training and numerous related educational materials. The 30-minute NAHT video was made in Iowa and features Iowa experts, survivors, and trainers. It is an excellent training video for anyone interested in learning more about trafficking in Iowa. Since its premiere last January, well over 3000 Iowans have viewed this NAHT video.

If you are a business leader and would like the NAHT to offer face-to-face and/or hybrid training of your staff at your facility, please contact local Anti-Trafficking Coalition leaders in your area or any of our current NAHT Board members.

You may also contact Ray Fiedler, Department of Public Safety Office to Combat Human Trafficking Coordinator, for more information on Hotel/Motel training and certification or with questions at [email protected].

Learn the Signs of Human Trafficking on January 17th

IBAT LogoThe Iowa Secretary of State, Paul Pate, is inviting you to join a free webinar during Human Trafficking Awareness Month to learn about the signs of human trafficking and how your business or non-profit can help raise awareness by joining Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT). The Secretary of State's Office is hosting a free webinar in partnership with Chains Interrupted on Tuesday, January 17th at 10:00 am to educate attendees about signs of human trafficking and how you can join the fight by becoming an IBAT member.

RSVP is required through Eventbrite: Click here to learn more.

IBAT launched in January 2022 and received a positive response from across the state! This past year, more than 620 businesses covering 89 of Iowa's 99 counties joined IBAT and reached community members statewide through various trainings and involvement to raise awareness of this horrific crime

Visit the SOS website here for ideas on how your business can “learn something” and “do something” in 2023.

Cost of Caring Webinar January 19th

In this webinar, guest panelists will discuss the emotional, psychological, and physical impacts of working in the human trafficking survivor caring professions and explore strategies to address compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and burnout. Attendees will learn ways to tap into the power of resilience and how to implement a trauma-informed framework while supporting staff self-care at their own organizations. Lauren N. Jenkins, LCPC, Hope Ignited Training, is the guest presenter for this event.

For more information about this webinar or the Human Trafficking Prevention Project (HTPP), please contact HTPP Manager Heather Heiman at [email protected] or visit www.mvlslaw.org/ht.

Sign-Up Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BSTTjWYEQQ2ib7qbFDoL

Information, Articles, and Resources

The post Slavery and HT Prevention Month Statewide Events January 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, and 19 appeared first on Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery.

 

This “Eyes on Trafficking” story is reprinted from its original location.

ABOUT PBJ LEARNING

PBJ Learning is a leading provider of online human trafficking training, focusing on awareness and prevention education. Their interactive Human Trafficking Essentials is used worldwide to educate professionals and individuals how to recognize human trafficking and how to respond to potential victims. Learn on any web browser (even your mobile phone) at any time.

More stories like this can be found in your PBJ Learning Knowledge Vault.

 

EYES ON TRAFFICKING

This “Eyes on Trafficking” story is reprinted from its original online location.

ABOUT PBJ LEARNING

PBJ Learning is a leading provider of online human trafficking training, focusing on awareness and prevention education. Their interactive Human Trafficking Essentials online course is used worldwide to educate professionals and individuals how to recognize human trafficking and how to respond to potential victims. Learn on any web browser (even your mobile phone) at any time.

More stories like this can be found in your PBJ Learning Knowledge Vault.