*EPF506 07/16/2004
Text: Eight Countries Will Receive Anti-Trafficking Aid, Bush Says
(State Dept. will coordinate initiative first proposed at UNGA) (460)

President Bush announced that eight countries will receive $50 million in U.S. aid to fight the problem of human trafficking, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in a July 16 statement.

The president was in Tampa, Florida, to address the first national training conference on "Human Trafficking in the United States: Rescuing Women and Children from Slavery." His announcement followed up on a pledge he made in a speech before the U.N. General Assembly in September 2003.

Brazil, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Moldova, Sierra Leone and Tanzania have been chosen to receive aid, Boucher said.

"These countries face significant challenges with human trafficking, and their governments have been receptive to anti-trafficking cooperation," he noted.

The assistance funds will be used to support nongovernmental organizations and U.S. agencies working abroad that rescue women and children from bondage and give them shelter, medical treatment and rehabilitation, according to Boucher. The State Department will coordinate the initiative.

"The goal is to build the capacity of non-governmental organizations and to work in partnership with governments in each country," Boucher said.

Following is the text of Boucher's statement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
July 16, 2004
Statement by Richard Boucher, Spokesman

U.S. to Provide Anti-Trafficking Assistance to Eight Countries

Underscoring the United States' commitment to freeing people from modern-day slavery, President George W. Bush today, July 16, announced that eight countries have been selected to receive $50 million in strategic anti-trafficking in persons assistance: Brazil, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Moldova, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania. These countries face significant challenges with human trafficking, and their governments have been receptive to anti-trafficking cooperation.

In his address to world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2003, President Bush pledged $50 million in additional funding to support organizations that rescue women and children from bondage and give them shelter and medical treatment in 2004. The Department of State is funding and coordinating this $50 million initiative, and some money already is being distributed to fund projects.

Anti-Trafficking-in-Persons projects will be implemented by non-governmental organizations and United States agencies working abroad. Projects will focus primarily on fighting sex slavery, the fastest growing category of trafficking, by increasing criminal prosecutions while rescuing, rehabilitating, and reintegrating trafficking victims. The goal is to build the capacity of non-governmental organizations and to work in partnership with governments in each country.

The President's initiative is in addition to other funds provided by the U.S. to fight human trafficking, including approximately $70 million in programs abroad in the last fiscal year.

(end text)

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

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