Cambodia Sex-Trafficking Sting
U.S. Government Helps Nail Sex-Traffickers
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov/
(202) 712-4320
2004-002
January 23, 2004
Contact: USAID Press Office
WASHINGTON, DC -- One of USAID's foremost battles-the fight to end sex-trafficking-will be featured on NBC's Dateline, this Friday (8:00 pm). The hour-long exclusive follows the successful rescue of 37 little girls-many under 10 years of age-from a living nightmare. That this particular case of multiple, daily rape and molestation ends in liberation is due to the extraordinary work of the International Justice Mission (IJM), an Arlington-based human rights organization and recent recipient of a $1 million USAID grant.
Deploying trained legal professionals to South East Asia, Africa, Central and South America, IJM assists often over-burdened law enforcement officials with under-cover investigations, evidence-documentation, sting-operations and litigation, resulting in the incarceration of sex-traffickers, and the rescue of children.
USAID dollars are now enabling IJM to establish a base of operations in Cambodia-home to the newly rescued girls you will meet on Dateline.
"The dimension of this despicable business and the sophistication of the organizations and the networks that support it are becoming clearer to all of us all the time. And so, too, is the commitment of the United States to fight it," stated Administrator Natsios at the State Department Conference on the Global Fight against Sex Trafficking last February.
USAID is aggressively acting on that commitment. In early 2003, USAID developed a comprehensive strategic plan, Trafficking in Persons: The USAID Strategy for Response, used to direct over $15 million to specific, anti-trafficking activities in 36 countries, an increase of more than 50 percent over USAID anti-trafficking funding for 2002. USAID provided approximately $6.6 million in Central and Southeast Europe and Eurasia, $4.2 million in Asia, $2.5 million in Africa and $1.7 million in Latin America and the Caribbean and additional $.5 million worldwide.
Galvanized by President Bush's National Security Presidential Directive and recently established Cabinet-level Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, USAID is implementing anti-trafficking activities in more than 40 countries.
| WHAT: | Children for Sale, "Dateline" report featuring USAID-grant recipient
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WHERE: | Dateline NBC
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WHEN: | Friday, January 23rd (8-9 p.m. ET) |
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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