I. Council Action Requested.
Title
WHEREAS, sex trafficking can happen to anyone, anywhere, and poses a grave threat to the safety and dignity of individuals across our community; and
WHEREAS, the State of Maine has taken a historic step by enacting laws 1435 and 1436, which provide survivors with a means to seal records resulting from their exploitation and target the root issue of the sex trade - sex buying; and
WHEREAS, Maine stands as the first state in our nation to pass such groundbreaking legislation, positioning us at the forefront of the fight against human trafficking; and
WHEREAS, a past study identified 300 to 400 trafficking cases in Maine, yet the true numbers are presumed to be far greater; and
WHEREAS, early intervention in the form of education and awareness for our youth and our community is imperative in preventing sex trafficking; and
WHEREAS, 92% of sex trafficked survivors report being physically assaulted, 42% say they have attempted suicide, and 90% want to escape the sex trade, but feel they can't; and
WHEREAS, trafficking can occur in-person and online, and people from all demographics are at risk; and
WHEREAS, community involvement is necessary to combat and ultimately end human trafficking, and the Town of Windham is committed to ensuring that no survivor or family affected by trafficking is left without the services they need to heal and progress,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED, that the Town Council of the Town of Windham its support for the efforts to combat sex trafficking and to raise awareness and engagement on this critical issue. The Town of Windham recognizes the importance of supportive legislation, community involvement, and survivor advocacy in working towards a future free from exploitation and trafficking.
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II. Basis for Council Action.
Council approval of this item is required because;
a. Pursuant to Article II, Section 3(I) of the Charter, the Town Council shall "[e]xercise all the legislati...
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