*EPF410 02/27/2003
Sex Trafficking: An Affront to Human Dignity
(Victims and activists speak out at Washington conference) (1110)

By Charlene Porter
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- Ghanga speaks softly in her native language as she sits in front of bright television lights and a translator conveys her story to a polished American television reporter. The story starts when she is about 10 years old, living in a village in rural India, then goes to a day when she takes an outing to Mumbai. She is separated from her friends, alone, lost and crying in a train station in a strange city. A man approaches and offers her sympathy and shelter. She is a frightened young girl from a small rural village; she trusts him and follows.

Her good Samaritan sells her to a brothel where she is kept for about two years, locked in a room most of the time. Only meals and customers come through the door.

She recounts this dreadful history in an almost matter of fact way, her tone reflecting little of the tragedy and horror of the events themselves. But then she comes to the part about how she was able to escape, how she tried to go home to her village and her family would have none of her. Tears begin to course down her face, but her story goes on and her voice remains steady. Ghanga went to an uncle whose love she thought she could trust.

"But he did not accept me," Ghanga says through her translator.

Ghanga squares her shoulders, wipes the tears and the story takes a better turn. She finds her way to a nongovernmental organization known as International Teen Challenge, which provides shelter and rehabilitation to liberate women from the sex industry. For four years, Ghanga, now 16, has worked at a shelter for trafficking victims operated by the U.S.-based nongovernmental organization Shared Hope International.

"I am very happy now," Ghanga says, tears dried by a warm smile. Having experienced exploitation that no child should know, somehow Ghanga has regained a life, a home, friends, and a future, but salvaging her dignity may be the most remarkable thing of all.

"One of the greatest threats to human dignity is human trafficking: the commodification of human beings," according to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. He spoke in Washington February 25 at an international conference "Path-breaking Strategies in the Global Fight Against Sex Trafficking," the same conference at which Ghanga sat before the television lights and shared her story with strangers.

"We must and we will continue to work together to protect the victims of trafficking and to bring to justice all those who violate their human dignity," said Ashcroft in prepared remarks to an audience of about 400 activists from 113 nations. The crowd gave the attorney general a standing ovation at these words.

The Justice Department has prosecuted a record number of human traffickers over the last two years, Ashcroft said, more than double the number in the two years prior. Thirty-six defendants have been prosecuted in sex trafficking cases in the United States over the last two years.

An estimated 50,000 women and children are trafficked into the United States each year, according to the best estimates available for such a clandestine activity.

In separate speeches to the conference, the attorney general and other top administration officials outlined a range of programs recently initiated to provide greater services and support for the victims of what Ashcroft described as "one of the most heinous crimes plaguing our society." Working through a variety of governmental and nongovernmental agencies, the Justice Department and the Department of Health and Human Services are attempting to ensure that when victims of human trafficking are liberated from their captors they are not treated like criminals and victimized again. Government programs are providing emergency medical attention, food, shelter, vocational and English language training, mental health counseling, immigration assistance and legal support.

These programs all arise from the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, passed by the Congress in 2000. Another significant provision in that law requires the State Department to conduct an annual worldwide survey of how well nations are doing in complying with international anti-trafficking agreements. This year the survey will be conducted for the third time, and the law will move into a tougher stage. Nations that are found to be falling short -- failing to prevent this crime, prosecute the traffickers and protect the victims -- can be subject to U.S. sanctions.

Though this law and the prospect of these sanctions is old news for U.S. activists concerned about human trafficking, many of the 400 attending the Washington conference learned about the strength of the U.S. commitment to combat these crimes for the first time.

"They don't know that America is putting pressure on their countries by these reports," said Linda Smith, founder of Shared Hope International, a nongovernmental organization working with like-minded groups worldwide to prevent trafficking, and provide rescue and shelter to its victims.

In a Washington File interview, Smith said that the unequivocal commitment to the cause forcefully stated by the administration during the conference is among its most significant achievements. "We're saying, ����we're putting pressure on your country; you keep working, and we're going to stand with you ... as America.'"

Lela, 26 years old, is an anti-trafficking crusader from Nepal, the home country for many of the girls and women who end up in the brothels of India. She goes to the villages and talks to parents and girls and warns them of what can happen when they listen to the promises of a stranger. She goes to the cities, finds prostitutes on the streets and attempts to bring them to shelter and a new life.

"I have great hope in the future," Lela said when questioned about the value of the conference for her. She has been doing this work in an isolated region for three years, and has often felt like a small force combating a large problem. "We could see around the world there are also problems. If all the international (activists), if they come together, they can help in Nepal."

Renu is another victim of trafficking who sits before the television cameras with poise and dignity. Now 22, she was sold into prostitution by her own family at about 15 and kept in a brothel for four years. She reveals only sparse details of the beating, abuse and degradation of that experience. Asked about the significance of the conference and what it should produce, Renu says softly, simply, "You must help these ladies."

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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