ALCOAST 008/21 - JAN 2021 NATIONAL SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH

R 081642Z JAN 21
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST

UNCLAS
ALCOAST 008/21
SSIC 16247
SUBJ:  NATIONAL SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH
1. By Presidential Proclamation, January is National Slavery and
Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The observance serves to
educate communities, industry, and individuals about the urgent
need to combat all forms of human trafficking.
2. The International Labour Organization estimates that there
are currently over 25 million victims of human trafficking
worldwide. This heinous crime is often hidden and is known to
occur in every setting from affluent to developing communities.
It violates its victims' most basic human right of freedom and
undermines the rule of law around the world.
3. The Coast Guard, primarily through our migrant interdiction
mission, is a front-line organization in identifying and
preventing human trafficking in the maritime domain. In 2020, the
Coast Guard trained over 13,000 members in identifying and
reporting indicators of human trafficking. This training educated
Coast Guard personnel on how to identify the subtle indicators
human trafficking and how to report these indicators through their
chain of command.
4. In the spirit of continued vigilance, for this year’s campaign
we encourage all members of Team Coast Guard to participate in
Wear Blue Day by wearing blue on January 11, 2021. This campaign
is intended to help foster greater awareness of human trafficking.
5. Coast Guard members are encouraged to work with their servicing
Public Affairs office on January 11, to share photos of their
coworkers wearing blue in support of the Wear Blue Day initiative
accompanied by the hashtag #WearBlueDay. If gathering in-person for
a Wear Blue Day photo, personnel and crews are reminded to practice
social distancing, wear a mask, and follow local guidelines to keep
each other safe. More information can be found on the Blue Campaign
website: https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/wearblueday.
6. For additional information and material on human trafficking
awareness training, contact LT Nicholas Spence at
Nicholas.R.Spence@uscg.mil, (202)372-2175 or visit:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/cgmle/cgmle3/SitePages/Human%20
Trafficking.aspx.
7. RDML S. W. Clendenin, Assistant Commandant for Response Policy
(CG-5R), sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.