STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – State Representative Selina Bliss, Chairman of the House Health and Human Services Committee, today sponsored and presented a legislative proclamation on the Arizona House floor recognizing Arizona Human Trafficking Awareness Day and highlighting the fight against human trafficking across the state.

The proclamation coincides with National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and designates January 13 as a day for Arizonans to learn the warning signs of trafficking, support survivors, and assist law enforcement and victim advocates working to stop exploitation.

“Human trafficking thrives in silence and shadows,” said Representative Bliss. “Awareness saves lives. Arizona must remain firm in confronting traffickers, supporting survivors, and holding criminals accountable for exploiting the vulnerable.”

Representative Bliss has advanced legislation and oversight efforts aimed at protecting victims, strengthening enforcement, and preventing state systems from enabling trafficking or exploitation.

The proclamation states as follows:

IN HONOR OF ARIZONA HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS DAY

Whereas, human trafficking is a modern form of slavery that exploits individuals through force, fraud, or coercion for labor or sex, and affects communities across the State of Arizona; and

 Whereas, victims of human trafficking include adults and children from all backgrounds, many of whom are targeted because of vulnerability, isolation, or economic hardship; and

 Whereas, human trafficking is often a hidden crime, making public awareness essential to identifying victims, disrupting traffickers, and connecting survivors with critical services; and

 Whereas, law enforcement, victim advocates, nonprofit organizations, and community partners throughout Arizona work collaboratively to prevent human trafficking, prosecute offenders, and support survivors; and

 Whereas, January is recognized nationally as Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and January 13 is observed across the nation as Human Trafficking Awareness Day; and

 Whereas, raising awareness strengthens Arizona’s dedication to protecting human dignity, promoting justice, and safeguarding the most vulnerable among us;

 Therefore, I, Representative Selina Bliss, invite the members of the Arizona House of Representatives to proclaim January 13 as Arizona Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and encourage all Arizonans to observe this day by educating themselves, recognizing the signs of human trafficking, and supporting efforts to prevent exploitation and assist survivors.

Selina Bliss is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives, serving Legislative District 1 in Yavapai County, and Chairman of the House Health and Human Services Committee. Follow her on X at @SelinaBliss.