Press Release for Visit of Ambassador Mark Lagon

Ambassador Mark P. Lagon during the press conference (Photo: Yacouba Soro/US Embassy)

Ambassador Mark P. Lagon, Director of the U.S. State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, will visit Cote d’Ivoire January 23-24, 2008.

The primary purpose of his trip is to consult with senior government officials and non-governmental leaders regarding the progress Cote d’Ivoire has made in combating trafficking in persons for the purposes of child labor and sexual exploitation. 

Ambassador Lagon has served as the Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State since May 2007.

The TIP Office coordinates U.S. Government activities in the global fight against modern-day slavery, including forced labor and sexual exploitation. According to U.S. Government-sponsored research completed in 2006, approximately 800,000 men, women, and children are trafficked across national borders, which does not include millions more trafficked within their own countries.

Ambassador Lagon has a Ph.D. from Georgetown University and a B.A. magna cum laude from Harvard University.

If you would like to have more information on Ambassador Lagon’s visit to Côte d’Ivoire, please contact Folli TEKO at the US Embassy 22-49-45-99 / 02-03-18-27.