ILAB News Release: [10/03/2002] Contact Name: Bob
Zachariasiewicz Phone Number: (202) 693-4686
Child Trafficking in Thailand Target of Labor Department
Grant to Faith-Based Group
Project Designed to Counter Sexual Exploitation of
Girls
WASHINGTON Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced
today a $703,000 grant to the International Justice Mission (IJM) to conduct a
program to combat child trafficking and sexual exploitation of girls in
Thailand.
Our collaboration with the International Justice Mission on this
project is a good working example of the effectiveness and efficiency of
public-private partnerships with faith-based and community organizations to
provide international assistance on such pressing issues as the sexual
exploitation of children, Chao said.
The three-year project will work to eliminate the trafficking and
commercial sexual exploitation of girls in northern Thailand through a
comprehensive, replicable strategy that includes prevention, removal and
rehabilitation activities. The trafficking of children for commercial sexual
exploitation is considered to be one of the worst forms of child labor. It is
reported that as many as 300,000 women and girls are trafficking into Thailand
to be exploited in the commercial sex trade each year.
The International Justice Mission, a faith-based organization founded in
1994, has an established field presence and an extensive international network
of ministries and human rights organizations working on the issues of
trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor abuse. This
network allows IJM to investigate and document illegal labor abuses, and
provide quality social services to victims of trafficking and commercial sexual
exploitation. Thus far, IJM has successfully documented more than 1,300 cases
of abusive labor and secured the removal of 900 victims of illegal labor
practices, including 300 victims of sex trafficking. In addition to providing
services to victims of sex trafficking, IJM works to provide training to local
law enforcement authorities to enforce anti-trafficking laws and helps
aftercare providers build their capacity to secure access to effective
rehabilitation for victims of exploitative labor.
The Labor Departments (DOL) Bureau of International Labor Affairs
(ILAB) is responsible for monitoring and oversight of all department-funded
international child labor projects. Since 1995, ILAB has administered
approximately $195 million for technical assistance programs designed to combat
and prevent abusive child labor around the world. More information about this
project and other DOL-funded child labor efforts, can be obtained from the
International Child Labor Program, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S.
Department of Labor, Room S-5307, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C.
20210. Telephone: (202) 693-4843; Fax (202) 693-4830; E-mail:
GlobalKids@dol.gov.
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