ILAB News Release: [10/20/2004]
Contact Name: Jane Norris or Mike
Biddle
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676 or x5051
U.S. Labor Department Awards $18.65 Million in Grants in FY 2004
To Battle Adult and Child Trafficking Around the World
WASHINGTONU.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced
$18.65 million in grants to combat human trafficking around the world. The
overall amount includes $3.75 million awarded to three non-government organizations
to implement anti-trafficking projects in Brazil, Cambodia, Moldova, and
Sierra Leone, and $14.9 million to combat trafficking of children for exploitative
labor in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific.
“Trafficking in human beings is an evil that targets mostly women and children,
whose suffering can scarcely be imagine,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine
L. Chao. “President Bush and this department are committed to preventing
trafficking, protecting victims and prosecuting traffickers. These projects
will help save the lives of men, women and children around the world.”
The projects to prevent human trafficking are being funded as part of President
Bush's international Combating Trafficking in Persons initiative. In Brazil,
Catholic Relief Services will provide employment services and income-generating
activities for adults, mostly agricultural workers, who have been trafficked
into forced labor. In addition, it will work with the national and local
governments to improve law enforcement, map trafficking routes, and implement
public awareness campaigns and adult education programs. Catholic Relief
Services will also work in Moldova to enhance legitimate employment opportunities
and related services.
In Cambodia, the department will work with The Hagar Project to develop
alternative livelihoods as well as an employment program targeted at former
trafficking victims and at-risk women.
In Sierra Leone, Winrock International will support community and faith-based
organizations in combating child trafficking by improving schools and providing
shelter, counseling, education and skills training.
An additional $14.9 million to combat trafficking of children will support
projects in the Dominican Republic, South America, Indonesia and in the sub-region
of West and Central Africa. These efforts will provide direct assistance
to children who either have been trafficked or who are at risk of being trafficked.
Among the services to be provided are education and training opportunities
for children and income generating opportunities for their parents as a means
of reducing the risk that children will be trafficked. These projects will
also seek to build local capacity in the targeted countries for confronting
the problem of trafficking, one of the worst forms of child labor as identified
by ILO Convention 182.
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