President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE last week designated January 2018 as “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.”

In a proclamation issued Dec. 29, Trump announced that January will be a time for the U.S. to “recommit ourselves to eradicating the evil of enslavement.”

“Human trafficking is a modern form of the oldest and most barbaric type of exploitation,” the proclamation read. “It has no place in our world. This month we do not simply reflect on this appalling reality. We also pledge to do all in our power to end the horrific practice of human trafficking that plagues innocent victims around the world.”

Former President Obama made a similar proclamation during his presidency, designating January 2017 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Obama also signed anti-human trafficking legislation in 2015 to provide services and protections for trafficking victims.

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Trump announced that in January, he will sign into law two anti-trafficking bills, the “Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act” and the “No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act.”





He also touted several ways his administration has moved to combat human trafficking, such as signing an executive order last February to dismantle international crime organizations and setting up an interagency task force on working with other nations to combat trafficking.

“The Department of State has contributed $25 million to the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery, because of the critical need for cross-nation collaborative action to counter human trafficking,” the proclamation read. “The Department of Labor has released an innovative, business-focused mobile app that supports private-sector efforts to eradicate forced labor from global supply chains.”

Trump has repeatedly lamented rising crime rates in the U.S., despite evidence that crime is at a low, particularly in big cities.