ATEST Applauds the Authorization of the End Modern Slavery Initiative
For Release: December 9, 2016
Washington, D.C. – The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking, a U.S. based coalition that advocates for solutions to prevent and end all forms of human trafficking worldwide, applauds the authorization of the End Modern Slavery Initiative within the FY17 National Defense Authorization Act.
The bi-partisan legislation introduced by Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) authorizes U.S. contribution to the End Modern Slavery Initiative at $37,500,000 per year through 2020 and will seek to raise additional funding from other donor governments and the private sector.
“The U.S. Government has a long history of funding domestic and international programs that combat modern slavery,” said Melysa Sperber, Director of ATEST. “The authorization of the End Modern Slavery Initiative is a significant step forward to eradicating this heinous crime.”
“While the U.S. Government has been the most generous and reliable donor for anti-slavery programs, the global need overwhelms the current response,” said Tim Gehring, Policy Director of International Justice Mission. “The End Modern Slavery Initiative creates a way for the U.S. Government to make a relatively small investment to leverage substantially much-needed additional resources from other donor governments and the private sector to address all forms of slavery and trafficking in the areas where it is most prevalent.
ATEST looks forward to working with the incoming Administration and Congress to ensure that the End Modern Slavery Initiative is implemented with survivor representation on the Board of Directors, funds programs that prevent trafficking, protect survivors and prosecute perpetrators, and is funded in addition to existing anti-trafficking programs, while protecting existing development, humanitarian, and democracy and governance assistance.
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The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking is a U.S.-based coalition that advocates for solutions to prevent and end all forms of human trafficking and modern slavery around the world. ATEST member organizations include: Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST), Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), ECPAT-USA, Free the Slaves, Futures Without Violence (FUTURES), International Justice Mission, National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), National Network for Youth (NN4Y), Polaris, Safe Horizon, Solidarity Center, Verité, and Vital Voices Global Partnership. ATEST is supported by Humanity United and Humanity United Action.