Sioux City declares 2025 Human Trafficking Prevention Month; local events planned

Mayor Robert E. Scott read a proclamation at the Sioux City Council meeting declaring 2025 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month and encouraged citizens to learn about the issue and support prevention efforts.

The proclamation notes the Thirteenth Amendment’s prohibition of slavery and describes modern trafficking as “forced labor and trafficking,” saying it “weakens our social fabric, increases violence and organized crime, and debases our humanity.” Mayor Scott read the proclamation into the record: “Now, therefore, I, Robert E. Scott, mayor of the city of Sioux City, Iowa, on behalf of the city council, do hereby proclaim 2025 as human trafficking prevention month and encourage our citizens to become more familiar with the problem and to work towards the solutions.”

Corinne Erickson and other advocates thanked the council for renewing the proclamation and described local awareness efforts already under way. Brenda Dasklerksner, who introduced some of the activities at the meeting, said the proclamation had been written years earlier and that “we see more and more efforts at awareness and prevention.” She announced that the city clock tower would be lit blue for January as part of the Light Up in Blue campaign and publicized an upcoming survivor presentation.

Dasklerksner said survivor Brittney Sowder will speak at 2 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Sioux City Public Museum. Dasklerksner described Sowder as a survivor who helped found a foundation to support trafficking survivors and who will speak about her experience and sign copies of a book she authored.

City officials asked for and were given flyers to share with the public. The proclamation and event schedule were presented as awareness and prevention measures rather than as actions that create new city policy or funding.

The meeting record does not show council action required for the proclamation; it was read, acknowledged, and scheduled events were announced to the public.