*EPF305 03/29/00
Text: Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Boyce Remarks at ARIAT
(Regional Action Plan needed to combat human trafficking) (1000)

The United States hopes that a Regional Action Plan to combat human trafficking will result from the three-day ARIAT meeting that began in Manila March 29.

The Philippine and U.S. governments are sponsoring ARIAT -- The Asian Regional Initiative Against Trafficking of Women and Children. It is bringing together officials of more than 23 countries to find ways to focus on the problem many call "modern-day slavery."

In prepared remarks delivered at the opening of the meeting, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Ralph Boyce said a Regional Action Plan is necessary as the foundation for "greater sharing of information and training efforts that will lead to actions to put traffickers out of business and to redeem their victims."

"Trafficking is one of the fastest growing and most lucrative criminal enterprises in the world," he said. "After drugs and guns, it is considered the third largest source of profits for organized crime.

"It requires relatively little capital investment and the risks of prosecution and severe punishment are still fairly low," Boyce said. It is estimated that one million people are trafficked annually, he said.

"The trafficking of women and children is of global concern," he said. "It causes human rights abuses, creates public health problems, strengthens organized crime, and corrupts public officials."

Boyce said that, based on President Clinton's Directive of March 1998 on Steps to Combat Violence and Trafficking in Women and Girls, the Departments of State and Justice have made significant progress in dealing with human trafficking issues.

But he noted that "We are still lacking a comprehensive law."

Following is the text of Boyce's remarks, as prepared for delivery:

(begin text)

RALPH L. BOYCE
U.S. DEPUTY ASST. SECRETARY OF STATE
FOR EAST ASIAN & PACIFIC AFFAIRS
REMARKS AT THE OPENING OF THE ARIAT MEETING
MARCH 29, HERITAGE HOTEL, MANILA

The United States of America is honored to work as a partner with the Philippines to co-host this important initiative.

The trafficking of women and children is of global concern. It causes human rights abuses, creates public health problems, strengthens organized crime, and corrupts public officials.

Trafficking is one of the fastest growing and most lucrative criminal enterprises in the world. After drugs and guns, it is considered the third largest source of profits for organized crime.

It requires relatively little capital investment and the risks of prosecution and severe punishment are still fairly low.

Although reliable figures are not available, we believe that over one million persons are trafficked annually, with about 50,000 of them entering the United States.

As we have just heard from the Foreign Secretary, the Philippines is making extraordinary efforts to improve the situation for its citizens.

Secretary Siazon identified a number of sources for trafficking from the poverty of the victims to the greed and lack of respect for basic human rights of the traffickers.

It is important that we continue to develop economic alternatives for women and ensure that compulsory education of our children give them healthy career opportunities.

It is equally important that we strengthen and enforce our laws against this terrible practice. Successful enforcement depends on regional cooperation of officials dedicated to putting the traffickers in jail and keeping them there.

One of the unique characteristics of this regional meeting is the integration of the prosecution area with the prevention, protection, and reintegration components.

We believe that by bringing together so many governments, NGOs, and international organizations to look at the full range of trafficking in women and children issues, we have a special opportunity to make real progress.

We also believe that this meeting has a carefully planned agenda aimed at achieving practical results on a regional scale. We will be working with you to realize outcomes that will result in concrete projects and activities.

Everyone here is in agreement that greater coordination and mutual assistance is needed to combat this form of modern day slavery. We now must put our ideals into practice.

Secretary Siazon also mentioned his government's considerable efforts against trafficking. The Philippines is complementing its national laws with international agreements.

One important area he noted is the need for greater coordination of the different government agencies involved in the different aspects of trafficking.

In the United States, we also have been striving to increase our role in multilateral efforts by working with the ILO, the UN Crime Commission, the European Union, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

We have initiated bilateral working relations with the Ukraine, Italy, Finland, and Israel after Secretary Albright discussed this issue with their Foreign Ministers.

President Clinton announced a $1.6 million program for South Asia during his recent visit there. Much of this new assistance will help non-governmental organizations to improve their coordination and to promote public awareness.

Based on the President Clinton's Directive of March 1998 on Steps to Combat Violence and Trafficking in Women and Girls, the Departments of State and Justice have made significant progress.

We are still lacking a comprehensive law. We are pleased to share our experiences with you and hope that some of them may be adaptable to your situations.

Similarly, we are here to learn from you, and I know there are many "best practices" to be gathered from your national country papers.

Working together, we hope to compile a Regional Action Plan that will guide us to greater success in defeating the traffickers. This will be a foundation for greater sharing of information and training efforts that will lead to actions to put traffickers out of business and to redeem their victims.

The East Asia and Pacific Bureau of the Department of State is proud to be part of this effort.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)

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