WHEREAS, in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness month in October, the Fourth Judicial District Hennepin County Family Violence Coordinating Council wishes to host a Resource Fair on October 4, 2017, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the skyway level of the Government Center; and
WHEREAS, the theme of the resource fair will be “Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking” and will feature representatives from various organizations in Hennepin County that provide assistance and services to women, children, and men who are impacted by domestic violence; it is designed to help raise awareness about the impact of domestic violence and sex trafficking; provide information regarding the organizations and services available to the community; and offer professionals the opportunity to meet others who work with victims impacted by domestic violence and sex trafficking; and
WHEREAS, domestic violence and sex trafficking are significant public health concerns; research by the Minnesota Office of Justice Programs and the Minnesota Statistical Analysis Center states that in 2015 a total of 1,319 people were helped as victims of sex trafficking; 74% of which were juveniles and 24% were adult women; and
WHEREAS, although domestic violence and human trafficking are different forms of victimizations, both have similarities and intersections; advocates working at domestic violence programs often encounter victims of human trafficking, thereby increasing the need for and importance of victim centered advocacy, confidentiality and safety; and
WHEREAS, the Anti-Sex Trafficking Committee for Super Bowl LII, convened in July 2016, co-chaired by the Hennepin County No Wrong Door Coordinator and composed of stakeholders from across different business and government sectors, has developed a response plan in partnership with the National Football League and local law enforcement to mitigate sex trafficking during Super Bowl LII in Hennepin County and the metro area; and
WHEREAS, following the resource fair, there will be a presentation in the A-level auditorium by a panel of professionals knowledgeable about the intersection between domestic violence and sex trafficking;