Release of Conference Document Pathbreaking Strategies in the Global Fight Against Sex Trafficking

As part of the continued commitment of the United States to fight human trafficking, the State Department will release an important reference document on May 29, 2003. The report is the product of an international conference officially hosted by the Secretary of State, held in partnership with the non-governmental “War on Trafficking Alliance”, from February 23-26, 2003. The purpose of the conference was to find new ways to take action against this growing international crime, which enslaves up to four million people each year.

More than 115 countries were represented at the conference, “Pathbreaking Strategies in the Global Fight against Sex Trafficking”. The meeting was extraordinary in a number of ways. Participants were selected on the basis of their achievements in combating human trafficking. Border guards sat next to vice-presidents, princes exchanged views with parish priests, activists and victims were invited to tell their stories. The conversations were remarkable, offering not only “best practices”, but strategies for curtailing trafficking in the future.

The President’s statement to the conference, the presence of cabinet level officials from four agencies, and the personal interest of numerous Congressmen all attested to the importance of the issue for the U.S. government. The texts of their messages are included in the document, as are keynote speeches by Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos Calderon and Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Margareta Winberg.

The conference document is an important source of inspiration and practical assistance for those struggling to eliminate human trafficking. It represents the ongoing U.S. policy of finding cooperative approaches to this transnational problem. It suggests programs that are known to be effective for the protection of victims, prosecution of traffickers and prevention of future trafficking. It also contains the group’s plan for regional arrangements that will increase the difficulty for traffickers to operate

The document will be presented at 10:00 a.m. on May 29, 2003 in room 1105 of the State Department by John Miller, the Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State on Trafficking in Persons and Linda Smith, representing the War on Trafficking Alliance. It will be posted on the State Department web site www.state.gov/g/tip after its official release.

*Pre-set time for cameras: 9:30 a.m. from the 23^rd Street Entrance
*All press must be in place by 9:45 a.m. from the 23^rd St. Entrance

Media representatives may cover this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) a U.S. government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, or Foreign Press Center); (2) a photo ID issued by the employing media organization; or (3) a letter on official letterhead from employing organization verifying employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo ID (valid driver’s license or passport).

For additional information, please contact Robert Tsukayama at (202) 312-9681 or Jessica Patterson at (202) 312-9893.