Pryce Leads Fact Finding Mission to Italy, Greece, Albania and Moldova to Address Trafficking of Women and Children. Full Story...
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Pryce Leads Fact Finding Mission to Italy, Greece, Albania and Moldova to Address Trafficking of Women and Children

From March 28-April 1, Congresswoman Pryce led a group of lawmakers overseas to meet with government officials, non-government organizations and trafficking victims to address the issue of sex trafficking of women and children. The goal of the trip was to exchange ideas about how better to prevent sex trafficking, protect victims of sex trafficking, and prosecute those who traffic, exploit and purchase women and children.

Trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery, involving victims who are forced, defrauded, or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation. The U.S. Government estimates that between 600,000 and 800,000 women, children, and men are bought, sold, and trafficked across international borders every year. This includes between 100,000 and 300,000 children who are victimized by unlawful sex trafficking at any point in time and between 14,500 and 17,500 victims who are trafficked into the U.S. annually. 

While the U.S. Congress has passed, and President Bush has signed into law, sweeping anti-trafficking measures over the last several years, more needs to be done. Last year, Chairman Pryce introduced legislation to further strengthen U.S. laws to protect children, and provide law enforcement in the U.S. with better tools to fight trafficking and assist victims. This legislation will be re-introduced in the 109th Congress this Spring.






































































































 

DAY FOUR

(Rome , Italy, April 1st)

On the final day of the journey to address sex-trafficking, the delegation began their day with a meeting at the Rome municipality that included Non Government Organization (NGO), Roxanne Project based here in Italy. The Executive Director, who collaborates with other NGOs to provide assistance offered a hopeful report of efforts and action that has resulted in improvement of the trafficking situation in the country.

Following, the members headed to the U.S. embassy where they visited with NGOs ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking) and ASSOTRAVEL, the travel industry association. They explained their concern for the growing problem of foreigners traveling to Italy to solicit sex with minors, many of whom have been trafficked through countries such as Nigeria. The Italian government has been working closely with NGOs to halt child sex tourism and has enacted strong and effective legislation to mandate public service announcements in the form of flyers and travel brochures that warn against the dangers that encompass trafficking. The Congresswomen referenced a similar program in the U.S. that was launched two years ago through the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE), a program called "Operation Predator"(www.ice.gov/graphics/predator/ to combat sex tourism. This operation brings to bear the broadest range of law enforcement authorities in the federal government to target those who exploit young people. It became clear in the meeting that the two programs complemented each other, both taking critical steps to educate the public about the dangers of trafficking.

The members departed the embassy for the Ministry Interior where they met with Prefect Anna Maria D'Ascenzo, head of the Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration. The members learned about programs aimed at providing immigrants with social services including victims of trafficking.

" Italy has put in place a model law that effectively addresses the root of the trafficking problem and the many complex issues that surround it. I am pleased to learn of their efforts and commitment and hope that their hard work can serve as an example for countries that face similar challenges."

Today concluded the delegation's journey to address trafficking. For questions about the information in the daily journal entries from the week, please contact Shiloh Roehl or Andrea Tantaros at 202-225-5107.

DAY THREE

( Tirana, Albania, March 31st)

Today, the delegation visited Albania as part of a regional tour to investigate trafficking in persons and efforts underway to address this problem. Albania, a country slightly smaller than Maryland, has faced significant trafficking in persons problems and is taking active steps to address the issue.

The delegation began with a visit to the residence of U.S. Ambassador to Albania, Marcie Ries, where they were joined by Albanian Prime Minister, Fatos Nanos. The visit to Albania resumed early this morning with a roundtable discussion that included local and country-wide NGOs, followed by a press conference with the Albanian media.

In addition to meetings in Tirana, the Congresswomen toured the Durres Port to observe the U.S. Department of Justice-sponsored Total Information Management System (TIMS), designed to increase law enforcement organizations' effectiveness in combating trafficking in persons and other crimes. During their visit, the Congresswomen discussed with NGOs and donor organizations the work that they are doing to fight trafficking in persons, protect victims, at-risk persons, and promote the voluntary return and re-integration of victims. They also learned about the Government of Albania's progress in implementing the National Action Plan on anti-trafficking. The members also visited a school in Durres where young school children viewed a video that taught them how they can protect themselves from trafficking; this is just one of the many efforts Albania has taken to implement critical prevention initiatives.

"Hope is evident in Albania. They have acknowledged the problem of trafficking and are actively taking steps to stop human slavery in their country. I commend their efforts and look forward to hearing of their future progress," said Chairman Pryce.

The Congressional delegation also traveled to Greece and Moldova and will conclude their trip in Italy Friday.

DAY TWO

(Chisinau, Moldova. Wednesday, March 30th)

A cold, damp rain poured down from the grey sky over Chisinau, Moldova, as the delegation arrived on its second day into the journey. The poorest country in Europe and a former communist Russian state, Moldova sits nestled between the Ukraine and Romania and is comparable in size to Maryland.

The Members first met with the U.S. Ambassador to Moldova, Heidi Hodges, and her team at the U.S. Embassy. The Members were given an overview of the trafficking situation in Moldova, where they learned of a new trend emerging: women and children are no longer being trafficked to Western Europe as much as before. Instead, they are trafficked out of the country into Eastern Europe, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Israel. At any given time, an estimated one-fourth of Moldova's citizens have left the country to seek employment elsewhere and in the rural areas, some towns sadly face a reality that half of the young women in their town are missing due to trafficking.

Next, two active Non-Governmental Organizations, La Strada and the International Organization of Migration, provided the Members with an assessment of trafficking in persons in the country and steps that the country, in partnership with the United States government, have taken to address the problem.

Shortly thereafter, the delegation departed the U.S. embassy for a shelter that provides much needed support services and a temporary home to women and children in need. The visit offered the Members a sobering and heartbreaking glimpse into the horrendous emotional and physical abuse caused by the sexual exploitation of women and children. The Members met with several young women who had been lured from Moldova by the promise of a job in a neighboring country, only to be sold into sex slavery upon arrival. One woman's courage and strength led her to escape from her abusers by jumping off a balcony. Today she lies paralyzed in a small, dismal room in the shelter, her mother standing next to her bedside.

"I am encouraged to see the progress Moldova has made and their commitment to stopping this problem," said Pryce. "It's crucial that women and young girls in Moldova understand the dangers and the warning signs that accompany this problem so they know the facts before they are fooled by empty promises of a better life and better jobs."

Moldova was one of eight countries targeted to receive special funds through President Bush's Anti-Trafficking Initiative. Congresswoman Pryce will be posting a journal entry each day of her five-day journey to Europe to examine the grave reality of sex trafficking.

DAY ONE
( Athens, Greece. Tuesday, March 29th.)

The three Members of Congress, led by Congresswoman Pryce, started the day at the residence of
the U.S. Ambassador to Greece, the Honorable Charles Ries, where they were later joined by several Non-Governmental Organizations who work in the field to assist victims of trafficking.  The meeting offered a frank assessment of the challenges Greece faces in identifying victims and offering resources to
them.  The delegation then visited a shelter where several women and children, ranging from the age of 6 to 30 years, were residing.  Several of the women were from Africa and had been trafficked through Libya to serve as
prostitutes.  They were rescued from the squalor of a tiny, dirty apartment where they lived on mattresses on the floor.  When asked what the delegation could do for them, a young teenager replied that she wanted a "job and
safety -- a life."  The delegation later met with ministers of the Greek government to offer cooperation and assistance to allow Greece to implement their new trafficking laws and combat the problem more effectively. 
Congresswoman Pryce commented on the delegations experience in Greece, "The United States and Greece unfortunately aren't the only countries that face this modern day form of slavery. The trafficking of women
and children for sexual exploitation is a transnational issue. It affects every nation in this world. It is a global crisis, and it is a global health crisis.  We desire to work together with Greece to end trafficking and strongly encourage all facets of Greece--from government, to NGOs to the communities--to communicate, collaborate and make an effort to
stop this crisis. Greece is a country of transit and destination for men, women and children from Eastern European countries and the former Soviet Union, including Moldova and Albania. Greece has been placed on the Tier 2
Watch List according to the State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report because, though they have addressed significant issues with regard to trafficking, there is still much work to be done.

Congresswoman Pryce will be posting a journal entry each day of her five day journey. She plans to visit Albania, Moldova and Italy.



U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons website

U.S. Department of Justice Trafficking in Persons website




 


Congresswoman Pryce toured Isuf Ferra School in Durres, Albania where she visited with a classroom of young school children. Some of the children had been trafficked to other countries, rescued, and repatriated to Albania.


Congresswomen Thelma Drake (VA), Kay Granger (TX) and Deborah Pryce (OH) meet with Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Stratan and U.S. Ambassador to Moldova Heidi Hodges (far right)

Office of Congresswoman Deborah Pryce  |  204 Cannon  |  Washington, DC  20515
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