Mercy College of Health Sciences President Dr. Adreain Henry signed the 2026 Proclamation Against Human Trafficking and Slavery on Jan. 8. This year’s event marks the eighth consecutive year that Mercy College has made a public declaration against slavery and human trafficking, the first in Iowa to do so, according to a news release. According to the Office on Trafficking in Persons, the two crimes are rising public health concerns that coerce individuals into two severe forms of trafficking – labor and sex – and affect generations of individuals from every race, religion and background. The proclamation condemns the practices of slavery and human trafficking and commits the college to raising awareness and finding solutions. As part of its efforts, Mercy College is allied with the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery, Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking and several other local and state agencies.