WHEREAS, human trafficking is a form of interpersonal violence and a crime in which force, fraud , coercion or similar means is used to compel victims into commercial sexual and labor exploitation, affecting individuals of all genders, citizenship status, ages and backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, human trafficking can happen to anyone, certain populations are at greater risk, including people affected by abuse, violence, poverty, unstable living situations, or social disconnection, as well as those systemically marginalized and underserved; and
WHEREAS, human trafficking requires a coordinated, community -wide response engaging diverse stakeholders including survivors, community members, educators, advocates, law enforcement, social workers, and professionals from a broad range of disciplines, agencies, and expertise, among others; and
WHEREAS, the Richmond Police Department is one of 40 partners in the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force, led by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, working to identify and support survivors, investig ate and prosecute all forms of human trafficking, and build community capacity to prevent and respond to trafficking; and
WHEREAS, in the first eleven months of 2024, Community Violence Solutions, the lead victim services provider in the Task Force, provided comprehensive, trauma - informed services to 183 victims of human trafficking, including crisis intervention, case management, advocacy, emergency housing assistance and linkage to resources; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, law enforcement agencies investiga ted 79 cases of sex and labor trafficking and identified 123 potential victims who were connected to services, and the District Attorney, lead law enforcement agency in the Task Force, filed 18 cases of human trafficking and related crimes; and
January 2025 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month
WHEREAS, the Contra Costa Alliance to End Abuse recognizes human trafficking as a public health issue that is preventable by building individual, community, and societal understanding and resilience, eliminating social and historical inequities, and improving the environmental conditions where people are born, learn, live, work, play, age, and worship; and
WHEREAS, Richmond residents in the Wendell Area Action Team have been working closely with the Task Force and nonprofit organizations—including the Family Justice Center, Faith in Action East Bay, Community Violence Solutions — and have received support from the Richmond Rotary Club to take meaningful action;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Mayor Eduardo Martinez, hereby proclaim January 2025 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month and urge all residents to take collective action to strengthen communities by reducing the conditions that contribute to exploitation, building resilience, and creating environments where people are protected from human trafficking and other forms of violence.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , during this month, we recognize the survivors of human trafficking and commit to building a future in which no person is deprived of human dignity or denied their inherent human rights of liberty, security, and access to justice. Let us make it known that human trafficking has no place in this city, this county, this nation or this world.
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Mayor Eduardo Martinez
City of Richmond
January 28, 2025
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Council Member Soheila Bana
City of Richmond
District 4