Human Trafficking Report Shows All Forms Must Be Addressed

World Vision commends the U.S. State Departments continued efforts to identify and combat human trafficking throughout the world through the recent release of the seventh annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP).

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) June 15, 2007 -- World Vision commends the U.S. State Departments continued efforts to identify and combat human trafficking throughout the world through the recent release of the seventh annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP).

The TIP report is a vital instrument in the U.S. governments commitment to develop policies that fight human trafficking, highlight progress on the issue and encourage foreign governments to take effective action. This report must be matched by sufficient political will to hold all nations accountable for human trafficking violations.

Otherwise, the TIP Report risks becoming a mere footnote in the fight to end modern-day slavery," said Joseph Mettimano, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at World Vision, an international Christian humanitarian organization focused on helping children and their communities worldwide.

This years report also recognizes the 200th anniversary of the British Parliaments abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. Still, slavery continues in todays world. World Vision, an international Christian humanitarian organization, is among those working around the globe to stop the trade in human lives.

Human trafficking is the unwilling transport of human beings across borders. It takes many forms, such as commercial sexual exploitation, child soldiering, debt bondage, servitude on the high seas, involuntary domestic labor and brokered marriages. Each year, as many as 800,000 people are transported from one country to another to be used in the commercial sex trade, forced labor or domestic service. Eight out of 10 of those are women and girls. An estimated two million children are enslaved in the global sex trade.

The reports tier rankings include countries that have violations involving both sex trafficking and trafficking child soldiers. The recently introduced Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2007 (CSPA) is intended to curb use of child soldiers, in concert with State Department reporting on violations. U.S. lawmakers must pass this legislation to prohibit taxpayer dollars from aiding militaries that victimize children by using them as soldiers and sex slaves.

Passing the Child Soldiers Prevention Act is one such step the U.S. government must implement as they hold other nations accountable for their efforts to address all forms of modern day slavery," says Mettimano.

World Vision has responded to the sex trafficking problem by protecting the vulnerable through education, aftercare and alternative livelihoods. One such program is a Trauma Recovery Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where hundreds of girls have recovered from their abuse. In its first nine years, the program has served 650 girls ages eight to 18, and successfully reintegrated 520 with their families or communities, or arranged foster or small group homes.

World Vision also helps U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field attachés identify Americans who abuse children in other countries and gather information that could lead to their prosecution and conviction. In addition, World Vision collaborates with destination-country law enforcement and government agencies dedicated to protecting children, to develop more efficient reporting and investigation procedures.

For additional information, please visit www.seekjustice.org

Press Contact:

Anne Duffy         

202.572.6340        

Geraldine Ryerson-Cruz

202.572.6302

# # #