Daly City moves to forefront of fight against human trafficking
Mayor David Canepa during the First Annual Asian American Cultural Festival. PHOTO from David Canepa’s Facebook account
DALY CITY, California—The Daly City Council has approved a resolution that puts the City at the forefront of coordinating local governments’ efforts to prevent and prosecute human trafficking crimes.
The council led by Mayor David Canepa is the first to approve the San Francisco Bay Area Compact, intended to be a multicity agreement to help local governments effectively address human trafficking, both sex slavery and labor abuses, in advance of the 2016 SuperBowl coming to the Bay Area.
“There is no doubt in our minds that local government must be proactive in this fight,” said Canepa. “Due to our geographic proximity to other countries and to major transit hubs, the Bay Area is a magnet for traffickers seeking to victimize both domestic and international victims.”
The compact provides for training of city staff in recognizing trafficking, identifying potential victims and adopting anti-trafficking and trafficking prevention as key legislative priorities.
“I’m proud that our police department is at the forefront of the fight against trafficking, Canepa said, adding, “and while we are already providing support to cross-agencies coalitions, it is important that we set the example for other cities. No matter how large or how small, it is important for every city to get in the game and adopt a strong position of support to make sure that the Bay Area is a model for becoming free of trafficking.”
Canepa indicated that he will be working with other mayors to secure the support of other cities for the Bay Area Compact.
The compact wasauthored by former State Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, who also authored the California Trafficking Victims’ Protection Act, the legislation that made human trafficking a crime in California.
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