Resolution on Slavery

At its meeting, Thursday 9/17, the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board will consider a resolution recommending legislation to strengthen Hawaii's laws against human trafficking. The proposed resolution follows:

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Human Trafficking Resolution
Neighborhood Board No. ____
WHEREAS, existing legislation and law enforcement activities in
Hawaii are ineffective to deter Human Trafficking. Effective
deterrents require bringing traffickers, and patrons or “johns” who
solicit services from trafficked persons, to justice, and

WHEREAS, no comprehensive, victim centered, law exists in Hawaii
that effectively penalizes the range of offenses involved in the
trafficking scheme, to create a significant and effective penal
deterrent to traffickers and patrons, while recognizing and
protecting the needs and rights of trafficked persons, and

WHEREAS, existing state laws fail to protect victims of
trafficking, who are often in Hawaii without proper documentation
or falsified identification and are frequently punished instead of
the traffickers themselves, and

WHEREAS, trafficked persons also often find it difficult or
impossible to report the crimes committed against them or to assist
in the investigation and prosecution of these crimes because they
are subjected to coercion and intimidation, including physical or
psychological control and debt bondage, and often fear retribution,
and

WHEREAS, adequate services and facilities do not exist in Hawaii to
meet the needs of trafficking victims for health care, housing,
education, medical services, and legal assistance, which safely
support the recovery and ability of trafficked persons to regain
control of their lives and also to assist with the prosecution of
traffickers, and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the ____________ Neighborhood
Board
No. ______ that:

1. In order to deter human trafficking, Hawaii must recognize
that trafficking is a serious offense, which is done by
prescribing appropriate punishment, giving priority to the
prosecution of trafficking offenses, and protecting, rather
than punishing, the victims of these offenses; and

2. The Hawaii State Legislature should enact a human trafficking
statute to allow local law enforcement and city prosecutors to
effectively combat the growing problem of Human Trafficking,
which is a contemporary manifestation of slavery, to ensure
the just and effective punishment of traffickers and to
protect the human rights of trafficked persons.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be
transmitted to:

The Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, the Lt. Governor of the
State of Hawai‘i, State of Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney
General, the City Prosecutor’s Office, Mayor of the City and
County of Honolulu, all City Council members, the Hawai‘i State
House of Representatives and the Hawai‘i State Senate.

The _______________ Neighborhood Board No. _____________ adopted

this resolution at its _______________________ meeting.


Approved by the ______________ Neighborhood Board on _____________
Date

_________________________________
Chairperson Signature