Embassy of the United States Ottawa, Canada

Embassy staff read from the Emancipation Proclamation.

Today U.S. Embassy Ottawa held a special event to mark the 150th anniversary of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation which President Lincoln issued to announce his intentions to order the emancipation of all slaves in the confederate states who did not return to the Union.

The event served as a reminder that human slavery still exists today around the world.

"Today, human traffickers hold as many as 27 million people in compelled service. Subjected to violence and fear, they cannot walk away," said Ambassador David Jacobson during his speech at the event. "While slavery is no longer legal, the fight for full freedom is not yet won."

Both the U.S. and Canadian governments are committed to working together to combat trafficking in persons using the "4-P" approach of prevention, protection, prosecution and promoting partnerships.

During the event Ambassador Jacobson also announced the winners of a special grants competition with whom the U.S. Embassy will partner to facilitate awareness of trafficking and to conduct training and research in pursuit of solutions to this blight on society. The three organizations are the Native Women's Association of Canada in Ottawa, the Quebec Native Women Inc. in Montreal, and the Alliance Against Modern Slavery in Toronto.