WHEREAS, 2018 marks the 23rd anniversary of the senseless murders of three Filipina-Americans, Susana Remata Blackwell, a mail order bride and victim of domestic violence and in forced servitude, and her two friends Phoebe Dizon, and Veronica Laureta inside the King County Courthouse; and

WHEREAS, In 1999 Anastasia Solovieva-King from Kyrgyzstan was murdered by her husband in Washington State in a separate incident of human trafficking that resulted in domestic violence; and

WHEREAS, The tragic deaths of these women brought widespread national media attention that elevated knowledge about the insidious nature of forced servitude, fraud and coercion, and highlighted the grim reality that forced servitude is a form of human trafficking that often ends in violence; and

WHEREAS, Since 2001, the University of Washington Women's Center under the leadership of Dr. Sutapa Basu began convening a conference on human trafficking in Washington State and, in 2002, led efforts in creating in statute the nation's first state task force against the trafficking of persons; and

WHEREAS, Early awareness of the problems around trafficking in Washington state was brought to light through tireless efforts led by Emma Catague and former State Representative Velma Veloria, along with others; and

WHEREAS, in 2003, the Washington State Legislature passed HB 1175, creating the crime of trafficking of persons on a state level, the first of its kind in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Since 2011, when President Obama proclaimed January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month in recognition that trafficking in persons is now the world's second-largest and fastest-growing underground economy;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognize those people and organizations that fight daily against the scourge of human trafficking, and encourage others to observe National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month with appropriate ceremonies and activities to combat human trafficking.