This was in today’s PARADE:

Ending Violence Against Women

Last month, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hosted the first ever U.S.-led summit to combat violence against women. Representatives from 17 nations attended. Rice spoke exclusively with PARADE about her determination to make violence against women a global priority—especially human trafficking, which she calls “the slave trade of the modern world.”

What is human trafficking?
The State Department estimates that 800,000 people are moved across international borders each year by traffickers, and millions more are forcibly transported within their own countries. The perpetrators prey on the weakest—primarily women and children—for profit. They lure victims into involuntary servitude, prostitution and being child soldiers.

Where does trafficking occur?
We have over 100 countries, including many allies, on a three-tiered list. Most Americans would be surprised to know that trafficking exists even in democratic countries. [Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar are among the worst offenders. Also cited: Jordan, Israel, Great Britain, Australia, France, Canada and South Korea.]

What is the U.S. doing to combat the problem?
We’ve created a special office to monitor and combat trafficking. We also have a special ambassador who assists nations with developing specific projects to end the problem. Sometimes that means creating shelters for women or encouraging greater prosecutorial zeal so that cases will be brought and tried. Sometimes women do not even know about their basic rights, so we need to educate them.

So I looked up this article:

March 12, 2008 — Updated 0022 GMT (0822 HKT)
Rice: Justice for women must be priority
From State Department producer Elise Labott
CNN

Story Highlights: 
+Secretary of State co-hosts panel on helping world’s women seek justice. 
+One in three women is victim of rape, abuse or domestic violence, she says.
+Sandra Day O’Connor says women need economic, educational opportunities.

WASHINGTON — Greater efforts must be taken to combat the growing trend of violence against women and end the “climate of perpetual fear” they face, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says legal systems must be willing to do their part to help women.

She was a co-host of the State Department’s Senior Roundtable for Women’s Justice, an effort to call attention to violence against women and help them seek justice. Joining Rice as hosts were former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Avon CEO Andrea Jung.

Justice for women should be a “policy priority for every country in the world.” Rice told the group of judges, legal professionals and human rights activists from 17 countries and 20 U.S. states.

Violence and lack of justice for women are often seen in countries engaged in conflict, where there is no rule of law. “Women too often suffer the most” in such situations, Rice said.

She noted that one in every three women is a victim of rape, abuse or domestic violence every year. And she pointed to the increasingly alarming rates of human trafficking. Every year, 800,000 people, mostly women and girls, are trafficked around the world.

At least 53 countries do not outlaw rape within marriage, according to the U.N.

Although most countries have laws against rape, violence and other crimes against women, in some, “courts and prosecutors are often unwilling or unable to catch and punish those responsible,” Rice said.

“Passing laws is not enough. Laws must be enforced,” she said. What good are a country’s law’s, she asked, when its institutions lack the will, are under-resourced or are “in some cases just too unsympathetic?”

O’Connor, whom Rice called a trailblazer and an “inspiration for every one of us, but especially an inspiration for me,” spoke about domestic violence, an issue she has addressed frequently.

In the 1970s in America, she said, police often didn’t consider domestic abuse a crime. But since then, laws have made it easier prosecute husbands guilty of domestic violence, she said, and rates of domestic abuse have fallen about 50 percent.

“We’ve come a long way in this nation and in the world, but we have a long way to go,” O’Connor said.

She noted that women around the world who are educated and have more economic opportunity are less likely to be abused.

A report by the International Labour Organization found that although more women are working than ever — 1.2 billion in 2007 — they are also more likely than men to get low-paying jobs without any social protection.

It is important for more women to join legal systems worldwide, O’Connor said.

“If the face of justice is always a man, it’s no surprise women are less likely to seek help and get help,” she said.

The roundtable was a public-private partnership between the State Department and corporations such as Avon, which has made money available to help women around the world empower themselves and seek justice.

then found the original:

Remarks at Senior Roundtable for Women’s Justice
Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Loy Henderson Auditorium
Washington, DC
March 12, 2008

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you very much. Thank you, Shirin, for that really kind introduction. As all of you know, Shirin is my senior advisor for Women’s Empowerment, and I cannot tell you what a terrific job she is doing in that post. She is literally traveling the world to bring the issues of women’s empowerment to our colleagues around the world. We were just together in Brussels just last week. And without her and without the effort of Shirin and those who work with us, this symposium would not have been possible. But more importantly, the very important focus that we have on women’s empowerment would not be possible. So thank you very much.

It’s a pleasure to have you all join us this afternoon and I’m very pleased for the opportunity to welcome you here to the State Department. And for some of you, to welcome you to the United States as well. I understand that you’ve had a fascinating and spirited discussion already, and I know you want to get back to that as quickly as possible so I’m going to keep my remarks brief because you know how academics are, we’ll go on in 50-minute segments if you allow us to do that. (Laughter.) So I’m not going to. This is an opportunity for an exchange of views not for long speeches.

As you know, March is International Women’s Month. It’s a time to reflect on the progress that women are making worldwide to achieve lives of justice and dignity. But it’s also a time to shine a light on obstacles, be it intimidation or repression, poverty or disease. Those are obstacles that too often prevent women from reaching their full potential. We focus on issues that affect women, but the stakes are much higher. When we talk about the empowerment of women, what we’re really talking about is the empowerment of societies. For in today’s modern world, no country can expect to succeed with half its population sitting on the sidelines, unable to participate politically and economically.

As we discussed what we wanted to focus on in our conversation today, we considered a lot of pressing issues that are essential to the empowerment of women. But ultimately, we settled on a topic of utmost importance: domestic violence and women’s lack of access to justice. This is a persistent problem that plagues all nations, and we in the United States are not immune.

The facts alone are harrowing. In our world today, one out of every three women will be beaten, raped, or otherwise abused during her lifetime. This violence, and this climate of perpetual fear that it creates, is particularly pervasive in areas of conflict – where the strong too often exploit the weak, where no force of law or justice exists to contain the darker demons of human nature and where it is women who too often suffer the most. One violent crime that stands out above the rest is the trafficking in persons – a modern form of slavery that ruins the lives of roughly 800,000 people worldwide, mostly women and young girls.

That such things as this could happen to anyone in the 21st century seems impossible, I know that it does, but tragically, it’s true.

In addressing the challenge of domestic violence and women’s access to justice, we realize that raising our voices for equal rights and equal treatment under the law is essential, but not sufficient, to reach the goals we seek. We realize that passing laws is not enough. Laws must be enforced by effective and responsible governments. After all, there are laws on the books that outlaw rape and domestic violence. But what good are they when a country’s institutions lack the capacity or the will to enforce those laws – when police or prosecutors or courts are under-resourced or, in same cases, just unsympathetic?

That is why the Senior Roundtable for Women’s Justice is so important. Women like you – the judges and the legal practitioners of your countries – are in critical positions not only to influence how laws are made, but to help ensure that they are enforced fairly. All of you have a role to play in moving the cause of equal justice for women beyond rhetoric and into reality. And we at the State Department are honored that you could join us in this common endeavor.

Here today we have guests from 17 countries – including the Attorney General of Malawi and the Deputy Attorney General of Pakistan, the Chief Justices of the High Courts of Bahrain and Benin and Ghana, and Morocco, as well as Justices from the High Courts of Argentina, Bangladesh, Hungary, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Along with state and federal court justices and judges from across the United States, as well as dynamic attorneys and non-governmental organizations, this is a roundtable truly a force for women’s justice and empowerment.

But I am especially honored today by the presence today of Retired Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Sandra Day O’Connor – the first woman ever to serve on the highest court in our land. In her retirement, Justice O’Connor has spoken across this country and across the world, inspiring audiences about the critical importance for every society of the rule of law and an independent judiciary. Justice O’Connor’s vision is best summed up in her own words: “Society as a whole benefits immeasurably from a climate in which all persons, regardless of race or gender, may have the opportunity to earn respect, responsibility, advancement and remuneration based on ability.” And I just want to say on a personal note, that Justice O’Connor is more than a trailblazer. She an inspiration for each and every one of us, but she’s especially an inspiration for me. I’ve known her for many years, because we share a Stanford background. And I was a young professor when she came early in the 1980s to address the Stanford commencement exercises. I’ve never been more proud to be a woman than that day, never more proud than to be an American that day. And so, my friend and my inspiration — thank you so much, Sandra, for being here. (Applause.)

This Senior Roundtable for Women’s Justice is the result of a big vision and a lot of hard work – much of it done by private parties. I’d like to express my appreciation to Andrea Jung, the Chairman and CEO of Avon Products, for rising to the challenges of domestic violence and women’s access to justice, for helping to make today’s Roundtable possible, and for already taking steps to ensure that there are resources available to carry our efforts forward. Andrea, thank you. Violence against women is a problem that no government can tackle alone. It takes the leadership and commitment of both public and private sectors, and I’m really pleased that we a partner in Avon Products. Thank you. (Applause.)

Ladies and gentlemen, women’s empowerment should be a policy priority for every country in the world. This is my personal hope as we mark International Women’s Month. But let me be even more ambitious still: I would like there to come a time in the not-too-distant future when there will be no need for any kind of International Women’s Month – when the women and girls of the world will be safe in the knowledge that the path of justice is open to them, and when violence against women is stigmatized and punished in every society.

But until some time — that time comes, we will continue to support women everywhere, who persevere in their quest to gain the equal rights and equal justice that they deserve. I am truly awed by the talent and the inspiring women who are participating in this event today. This is a forum that has an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of women everywhere. I’m proud to be a part of it. I promise you the support of the United States Government and the State Department and my support as Secretary. And long after I’m Secretary, I hope to continue the dialogue with you.

Thank you. (Applause.)

2008/182

and finally an older article:

Fact Sheet
Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
Washington, DC
July 25, 2005

The Facts About Human Trafficking for Forced Labor

 

PDF version   

A Victim’s Story

Rajila, age 30, left her home in India to work in Saudi Arabia based on promises of a good salary and free housing from a company that supplies laborers for hospitals. But what seemed like a dream opportunity turned out to be a nightmare. Rajila, together with other foreign women, was forced to work 12-hour shifts, six days a week. She was never paid. The “free” housing was excruciatingly confining, and, when the women returned from work, they were locked in their rooms. Once a week they were escorted to the local market to purchase groceries and other necessities. She and other Muslim laborers from India were not allowed to practice their faith in local mosques. Rajila left Saudi Arabia taking with her no accumulated salary from three and a half years of uninterrupted work.¹

What is Human Trafficking?

Trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery. Annually, approximately 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders; millions more are enslaved in their own countries. The common denominator of trafficking scenarios is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit a person for commercial sex or for the purpose of subjecting a victim to involuntary servitude, debt bondage, or forced labor. The use of force or coercion can be direct and violent, or psychological.

The Causes of Labor Trafficking

Most instances of forced labor occur as unscrupulous employers take advantage of gaps in law enforcement to exploit vulnerable workers. These workers are made more vulnerable to forced labor practices because of unemployment, poverty, crime, discrimination, corruption, political conflict, and cultural acceptance of the practice. Immigrants are particularly vulnerable,² but individuals are also often forced into labor in their own countries.

Bonded Labor

One form of force or coercion is the use of a bond, or debt, to keep a person in subjugation. This is referred to in law and policy as “bonded labor” or “debt bondage.” It is criminalized under U.S. law and included as a form of exploitation related to trafficking in the United Nations protocol on trafficking in persons. Many workers around the world fall victim to debt bondage when they assume an initial debt as part of the terms of employment, or inherent debt in more traditional systems of bonded labor. In South Asia, this phenomenon exists in huge numbers as traditional bonded labor in which people are enslaved from generation to generation.

Involuntary Servitude

People become trapped in involuntary servitude when they believe an attempted escape from their conditions would result in serious physical harm or the use of legal coercion, such as the threat of deportation. Victims are often economic migrants and low-skilled laborers who are trafficked from less developed communities to more prosperous and developed places. Many victims experience physical and verbal abuse, breach of an employment contract, and may perceive themselves to be in captivity—and too often they are.

Domestic Servitude

Domestic workers may be trapped in servitude through the use of force or coercion, such as physical (including sexual) or emotional abuse. Children are particularly vulnerable to domestic servitude which occurs in private homes, and is often unregulated by public authorities. For example, there is great demand in some wealthier countries of Asia and the Persian Gulf for domestic servants who sometimes fall victim to conditions of involuntary servitude.

Child Labor

Most international organizations and national laws indicate that children may legally engage in light work.³ By contrast, the worst forms of child labor are being targeted for eradication by nations across the globe. The sale and trafficking of children and their entrapment in bonded and forced labor are particularly hazardous types of child labor. Forced conscription into armed conflict is another brutal practice affecting children, as armed militias recruit some children by kidnapping, threat, and promise of survival in war-ravaged areas.

What Consequences Do Victims Face?

Victims of trafficking for forced labor lose their freedom, becoming modern-day slaves. They experience permanent physical and psychological harm, isolation from families and communities, reduced opportunities for personal development, and restricted movement.⁴ Victims are often wary of law enforcement and psychologically dependent on their traffickers. Child victims are denied educational access, which reinforces the cycle of poverty and illiteracy.

What Is the United States Doing to Combat Human Trafficking for Forced Labor?

 

 

 

• The 2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Act and 2003 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act mandate efforts to combat trafficking in persons.
  
• The Department of State issues an annual Trafficking in Persons Report that assesses foreign government actions to combat trafficking, including protecting the victims of labor servitude and punishing their exploiters. The 2005 Trafficking in Persons Report includes an increased number of countries on Tier 3 for labor violations.
  
  • Four countries were placed on Tier 3 for insufficient efforts to take action to comply with U.S. standards for the elimination of trafficking, including the exploitation of some workers: Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
    
  • Burma, North Korea, Sudan, and Cuba remain on Tier 3 largely because of their lack of efforts to address forced labor in their countries.
    
• The Trade and Development Act of 2000 mandates efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor including the trafficking of children and forced child labor, as a criterion for countries receiving trade benefits.
  
• The Department of Labor (DOL) produces an annual report on the steps countries are taking to combat the worst forms of child labor.
  
• In FY 2004 alone, the United States Government spent more than $81 million on anti-trafficking efforts abroad to assist governments and non-governmental organizations. About 24 percent, ($19.4 million), of that amount focused in part on labor trafficking, while 14 percent ($11.3 million) focused primarily on programs to combat labor trafficking.  These programs include:
  • A partnership between the Department of State and the International Organization for Migration to reintegrate and identify children trafficked into the fishing industry in the Lake Volta region of Ghana.
    
  • A USAID-funded project in Uganda with the International Rescue Committee to rehabilitate children who were abducted by a terrorist organization that operates in Southern Sudan and Northern Uganda, and to protect other children from abduction.
    
  • A Department of State-funded project with Free the Slaves in India to free indentured servants and train law enforcement officials, provide counseling to victims, and raise awareness in rural villages.
    
  • A DOL-funded program with Catholic Charities in Brazil to identify trafficking routes, improve coordination between law enforcement and labor inspectors, and train police to better detect and investigate trafficking for forced labor.

For more information, please log on to the Web site of the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at www.state.gov/g/tip.

_______________

¹ Human Rights Watch Report; “Bad Dreams: Exploitation and Abuse of Migrant Workers in Saudi Arabia” July, 2004. http://hrw.org/mideast/saudi/labor.
² Tuller, David, 2005. “Freedom Denied: Forced Labor in California.” Human Rights Center, University of California Berkeley, p. 1. www.hrcberkeley.org/download/freedomdenied.pdf.
³ DOL Report, pp. xlv-xlvi; International Labour Organization. 1973. Convention Concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment. No. 138. http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/english/convdisp1.htm.
⁴ Tuller. pp. 1 and 4.

http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/fs/2005/50861.htm