*EPF509 03/12/2004
Text: U.S. Outreach to Trafficking Victims Expands
(HHS launches U.S. public awareness efforts) (720)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced new measures to educate the American public about human trafficking and the assistance available to trafficking victims across the United States.

According to a March 11 HHS press release, the U.S. government estimates that between 18,000 and 20,000 men, women and children are trafficked to the United States each year and forced into prostitution, pornography and sweatshop labor.

HHS is sponsoring an information hotline to advise callers who have encountered victims of human trafficking and to identify local resources available in their community to help victims. In addition, clear information on what constitutes human trafficking, the patterns of the crime, and the legal assistance available to all victims is outlined on a new HHS website, www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking.

HHS makes it clear that victims of human trafficking who are non-U.S. citizens are eligible for a special visa and to receive benefits and services. Victims of trafficking who are U.S. citizens already may be eligible for many benefits due to their citizenship. HHS spokesmen will be visiting three major U.S. cities to educate the public on how to assist victims and combat this growing criminal industry.

"Victims of trafficking require fast, safe and reliable help," Wade F. Horn, HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, said in the press release. "The effort we are unveiling today will educate the public on how they can assist, while giving those marred by human trafficking the immediate aid they need."
HHS is one of many government institutions working to implement the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. The President's Interagency Task Force on Trafficking in Persons includes Cabinet members from the departments of Health and Human Services, State, Justice, Labor, Homeland Security, and Defense. More information on U.S. efforts to combat human trafficking is available at http://www.state.gov/g/tip/.

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
March 11, 2004

HHS ANNOUNCES ANTI-TRAFFICKING HOTLINE, AWARENESS EFFORT

HHS today announced a major public awareness effort to combat human trafficking and help its victims, including a toll-free hotline.

"Today we are announcing four tools to help crack down on the evil practice of human trafficking, as well as assist those who have been victimized," Secretary Thompson said.

The federal government estimates that between 18,000 and 20,000 men, women and children are trafficked to the U.S. each year, part of a worldwide problem affecting between 800,000 and 900,000 people. Often, their traffickers confiscate victims' passports, money and identification as they are forced into prostitution, pornography and sweatshop labor. This modern-day form of slavery has become a $13 billion per year global industry.

President Bush will address the issue of human trafficking as part of a
Speech at the White House March 12 on violence against women. The actions announced today follow a law the President signed on December 19, 2003, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, designed to step up U.S. efforts against human trafficking.

The new tools include:

· A toll-free number (888-373-7888) run by the Covenant House,
sponsored by HHS in collaboration with the Department of Justice, to allow victims of trafficking to be instantly referred to a pre-screened aid organization in the victim's area. The number will become active by next week.
· A Web site (www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking) that serves as a
clearinghouse on helping victims of human trafficking.
· Initially, a three-city public awareness effort (Philadelphia,
Atlanta and Phoenix) to educate Americans on the problem of human
trafficking and how they can help victims in their community.
· A public service television announcement, shared by HHS and the
United Nations, to educate the public, on a national level, on the issue of human trafficking.

"Victims of trafficking require fast, safe and reliable help," said Wade F. Horn, Ph.D., assistant secretary for children and families. "The effort we are unveiling today will educate the public on how they can assist, while giving those marred by human trafficking the immediate aid they need."

The initiative is administered by HHS' Administration for Children and
Families and its Office of Refugee Resettlement.

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

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