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Media Advisory June 9, 2006 HUMAN TRAFFICKING REPORT SHOWS NEED TO CURB DEMAND WORLD VISION APPLAUDS U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT RELEASE OF 2006 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT, EFFORTS TO COMBAT CHLD SEX TOURISM Washington, June 8, 2006–-World Vision applauds the U.S. State Department for documenting and encouraging action to end the global trade in human lives with this week’s release of the 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP), and the government’s plans to further address the demand that fuels the problem. Human trafficking is modern-day slavery, involving victims who are sold or forced into labor or sexual exploitation. The sixth annual report sheds new light on the alarming number of people trafficked for purposes of slave labor, estimating that as many as 27 million people are subject to forced or bonded labor, or sexual servitude, at any given time. Of those, more than a million children a year are coerced or tricked into prostitution, according to the report. World Vision commends the diligent work of the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, led by Ambassador John R. Miller, to evaluate and reveal the global problem and urge foreign governments to effectively combat all forms of human trafficking. "The scope of the problem makes it clear we have to address both supply and demand in order to stop trafficking and its many forms of human exploitation," said Joseph Mettimano, director of public policy and advocacy at World Vision, an international Christian humanitarian organization focused on helping children and their communities worldwide. "The global sex trade in children and women is fueled by demand–-a substantial amount of it from our own country-–which makes targeting and stopping abusers critical." Child sex tourism, the practice of traveling to another country to have sex with children, exacerbates the trade in vulnerable people for commercial sex. Some sex tourists are pedophiles, specifically seeking underage boys and girls. Others travel for legitimate reasons, but decide to “experiment” while abroad. Health concerns, such as HIV/AIDS, also create an increased demand for younger victims. World Vision has responded by developing a crime prevention campaign to deter potential child sex tourists before they harm children, and to help law enforcement agencies identify and apprehend those who are not deterred. With funding from the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and private donors, the project operates in six countries: Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, Cambodia, Thailand, and the U.S. World Vision places a range of deterrent messages in the U.S. and partner countries, using billboards, street signs, Internet ads, television commercials, magazines, and in-flight video on commercial airlines. The notices warn travelers that sex with minors in any country is a crime punishable by U.S law. Telephone hotlines are publicized so people can report suspicious activities. World Vision staff also help U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field attachés to identify Americans who abuse children in other countries and gather information that could lead to their prosecution and conviction. In addition, World Vision collaborates with destination-country law enforcement and government agencies dedicated to protecting children, to develop more efficient reporting and investigation procedures. For additional information, please visit www.seekjustice.org. Press Contact Geraldine Ryerson-Cruz, 202.572.6302, gryerson@worldvision.org World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. We serve the world’s poor regardless of a person’s religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit www.worldvision.org/press |  | Who Is World Vision? World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.. Media Contacts
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