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Mayor proclaims January 2025 Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Lawrence
Summary
Mayor Michael Devereux read a proclamation declaring January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month and called for community support for survivors and prevention efforts; the invited speaker, Zoe Barlow, was not present.
Mayor Michael Devereux read a proclamation at the Jan. 14, 2025 Lawrence City Commission meeting declaring January 2025 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Lawrence.
The proclamation described human trafficking as "a modern form of slavery" and said it includes recruiting, harboring and transporting people for exploitation. It noted that trafficking and labor trafficking occur in Kansas and that victims can be of any age, gender, socioeconomic status, race or location. The proclamation referenced Kansas human trafficking laws and called for community prevention, survivor support and accountability for offenders.
Devereux read the proclamation in the absence of an invited speaker: the transcript shows the meeting chair asking whether Zoe Barlow was present and staff indicating she was not on the Zoom or in the room.
The proclamation urged residents to "voice their opposition to sex and labor trafficking, support survivors, hold offenders accountable, and prioritize prevention efforts through events, policies, and community programs." It also called for a collaborative, trauma-informed approach to survivor safety.
No formal vote or ordinance was recorded for the proclamation; it was read aloud by the mayor and entered into the meeting record.
