Today, the Secretary joined her Spanish counterpart, Minister of Interior Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, in giving keynote addresses to the International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners in Madrid, Spain. This is the 31st annual data protection commissioner conference, but one of the few times when policy makers shared their views on data collection AND protections.

The conference hall was packed this morning, as privacy professionals from around the world crammed together to hear from royalty - the Prince of Asturias, the Spanish heir to the throne - and politicians alike.

The Secretary and the Minister both made clear that their vision of information sharing had to be consistent with privacy and civil liberties protection. Minister Rubalcaba began his speech with an emphatic statement - security and privacy are common principles, and can co-exist! He also warmly welcomed Secretary Napolitano, recognizing that her presence at this conference demonstrated the shared will of Europe and the US to work together.

Secretary Napolitano specifically acknowledged the completion of the work of the High Level Contact Group in crafting data protection principles, and encouraged movement towards a binding data protection agreement, stressing "what unites us far outweighs what divides us - including a long-standing respect for human rights and individual liberties."

As a privacy professional, this interaction between privacy leaders and policy leaders heralded a new era in transparency, one of the hallmarks of the Obama Administration; personally, it was heartening to witness this important dialogue. As both the Minister and Secretary Napolitano made clear, security and privacy can reinforce each other. At the Department of Homeland Security's Privacy Office, we try to implement this principle every day.

Mary Ellen Callahan is the Chief Privacy Officer for the Department of Homeland Security

...from the Danes, but not the weather. It's been a bit dreary here in Copenhagen since our arrival late last night, but we've enjoyed a very productive visit to Denmark. The Secretary met this morning with Minister of Justice Brian Mikkelson to talk about cooperation on counter-terrorism. With the Headley case in the news the visit was quite timely. The Minister and the Secretary also talked about crime in cities and security in transportation, including ways to improve coordination between the two sides.

Human Trafficking is a crime that isn't limited by the borders of a country or the culture of a society or community. It has ballooned into an organized, international practice that robs men, women, and children of the opportunity to pursue their own potential.

Now, chances are that you don't think you know a family member, friend, or neighbor affected by this criminal behavior. This is not a crime that always happens out in the open; it's not as common a news story in this country as theft or fraud. However, every day individuals are quietly moved or "trafficked" from their homes in other countries - often through deception or coercion - and moved across land borders and bodies of water, where they are forced or even sold into prostitution and servitude. It's not just an international problem, though - trafficking regularly takes place within countries and states. No community is immune to this crime of exploitation, even here in the United States.

The Secretary addressed the issue of Human Trafficking this morning during a discussion with students, faculty, journalists and representatives from government, law enforcement and the NGO community at the Danish Institute for International Studies in Copenhagen. She sees it as an urgent problem that affects the United States, our international partners, and particularly less developed nations - where much of the trafficking originates.

“Human trafficking is a global problem that requires a global solution.” said Secretary Napolitano. “The United States, Denmark and all our international partners must continue to work together to better identify and dismantle criminal trafficking organizations.”

The Secretary talked about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) role in combating the practice, and particularly ICE's work with the Danish National Police and other international partners to dismantle the infrastructure that helps to facilitate the movement of individuals across borders. ICE also employs more than 300 Victim Assistance Coordinators worldwide who work with non-governmental organizations to help provide long-term assistance efforts.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) also manages an international Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign, aimed at raising awareness about the issue.

The Secretary also discussed the public's responsibility. We often talk about our shared responsibility to prepare for disasters, to be alert and vigilant in recognizing potential criminal or terrorist activity, and to protect ourselves and each other from the spread of communicable diseases like the seasonal and H1N1 flu strains. Add this one to that list.

You'd think that human trafficking isn't always visible or noticeable. However, victims of this crime are commonly domestic servants or employees at a "sweat shop." ICE launched a campaign last year called "Hidden in Plain Sight," an initiative designed to raise awareness about this issue in the United States. Individuals who suspect someone is being held against their will should call the ICE tip line at 1-866-DHS-2ICE.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Secretary's trip.

Secretary Napolitano departed Washington, D.C. this morning en route to Copenhagen, Denmark - the first stop on a multi-city trip to Europe and the Middle East. The Secretary will travel to Belgium, Denmark, Spain, the United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom over the next six days to meet with her international counterparts to discuss information sharing and privacy protection; collaborative efforts to secure cyber networks worldwide; and coordination to combat transnational criminal activity and the global threat of terrorism.

In Copenhagen, the Secretary will meet with her counterparts on transportation security, bilateral criminal information sharing partnerships, and ongoing multinational efforts to address transnational crime—particularly human trafficking.

In Belgium – where I'm told they sell waffles on the street – Secretary Napolitano will meet with members of the European Parliament and Belgian officials to discuss methods for combating crime and terrorism while protecting civil liberties. She will also meet with World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya to discuss multilateral efforts to crack down on smuggling and strengthen risk-based cargo screening.

In Spain, Secretary Napolitano will deliver remarks to the International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners. She will also join Spanish officials to discuss customs cooperation as well as privacy issues related to bilateral criminal information sharing partnerships between the United States, Spain and the European Union.

In the United Arab Emirates, Secretary Napolitano will meet with her counterparts to highlight transportation and maritime security and the benefits of information sharing initiatives to deter the threats of crime and terrorism.

In the United Kingdom, Secretary Napolitano will join students, faculty and staff at the London School of Economics to encourage a new generation of security professionals to confront a continually evolving array of threats through collaboration and innovation. She will also meet with her UK counterparts to stress the importance of collaborating on cybersecurity efforts and talk with the Metropolitan Police of London about recent multinational criminal investigations. This blogger hopes she comes home with a bobby's helmet for the office.

We'll be following the trip pretty closely on the blog. Check back for frequent updates and pictures.