September 27, 2006

Pryce, Ricky Martin Discuss
Horrors of Human Trafficking

Pop Star Shares Pryce’s Commitment to End Modern Day Slavery

Washington, DC – On Monday, Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Columbus), a champion for ending human sex trafficking, met with Latin American pop singer Ricky Martin, a recognized advocate against trafficking through his organization, the Ricky Martin Foundation.  The two shared insights on their respective efforts to end this abominable practice at a meeting in the Inter-American Development Bank in D.C.

“Mr. Martin should be applauded for wielding his celebrity status to attack this horrific international human-rights issue,” said Pryce.  “While the trafficking of persons continues to gain increased attention both in the U.S. and around the world, the Ricky Martin Foundation has helped to raise the profile of ending trafficking as an international moral imperative.”

Pryce authored the End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act, which was included in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and signed into law in January.  While the larger Act focuses on efforts to combat trafficking around the globe, Pryce’s language specifically targets the demand for trafficked victims into the United States.  Specifically, her provisions:

• Promote more effective means of combating unlawful commercial sex activities by targeting demand;
• Provide grants to establish and expand assistance programs for victims of sex trafficking;
• Authorize a pilot program to provide shelter, counseling, and assistance to youth victims of sex trafficking in the United States;
• Help state and local law enforcement agencies to initiate programs to investigate and prosecute sex trafficking cases, educate those charged with purchasing or attempting to purchase commercial sex acts, and train law enforcement personnel;
• Require a biennial statistical review to provide a more accurate picture of the problem; and
• Require an annual report and conference on best practices of reducing demand for unlawful commercial sex acts.

“The trafficking of human beings is one of the greatest human rights abuses of the 21 st century, and our nation has a moral obligation to fight this evil,” Pryce said.  “Yesterday’s meeting may very well yield future collaborative efforts between the Ricky Martin Foundation and Congress, and is indicative of a growing international cooperative effort to stop this degradation and exploitation of the innocent.”

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) recently launched Call and Live, a regional campaign against human trafficking, in partnership with the Ricky Martin Foundation and the International Organization for Migration.  Call and Live has worked to publicize prevention hotlines against human trafficking, targeting mainly minors and young women through mass media and community mobilization activities.  

In its four-month run in Peru, the campaign's hotlines have registered an average of 1000 calls per month, launched police investigations of at least twenty-three new trafficking cases, and saved ten lives.  The campaign will soon be implemented in Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador and Nicaragua, and there are plans to extend the campaign to Colombia and Mexico.  

Recap of Pryce's Efforts to Fight Human Trafficking

• Author of End Demand for Sex Trafficking Act, which was included in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and signed into law in January. 
• Focus on demand was a unique aspect of Pryce bill.  Demand activities are a critical component in anti-trafficking campaigns. 
• More than $21 million allocated in FY07 Justice appropriations bill (awaiting Senate action) to support victims of trafficking and conduct a statistical review of trafficking in the U.S.  Measure also increases the number of personnel in the State Department's Trafficking In Persons (TIP) office by five.
• Held two hearings in Pryce's Financial Services Subcommittee on trafficking.
  
  

For more information about Call and Live, please visit:  http://www.rickymartinfoundation.org/english/programs/call_and_live.aspx.