Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record 2004-2005

Special Press Briefing and Release of Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record 2004-2005

Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, will introduce the release of the State Department's report, Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record 2004-2005 on Monday, March 28, at 10:00 a.m. Following the Secretary's opening remarks, Acting Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Michael G. Kozak will provide remarks and respond to reporters' questions. This event is on camera and on the record, and will be held in the State Department's press briefing room (Room 2209).

Advance Copies of the Embargoed Report

Embargoed copies of the publication in print and on CD-ROM will be available on Monday, March 28, 2005 at 8:30 a.m. in the State Department's Press Office (Room 2109). The entire report is EMBARGOED until the end of the press briefing, approximately 11:00 a.m., March 28. Copies will not be reserved, mailed, faxed or delivered to a building entrance.

Press who attend this briefing should arrive at the 23rd Street entrance to the Harry S. Truman Building (2201 C Street, NW) and must present either (1) A U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver's license, passport). Press should allow adequate time to process through security and to be in the briefing room 10 minutes before the briefing.

Electronic Access to the Report via Internet

The full text of the report will be available for downloading from the State Department web site at: http://www.state.gov/ as soon as possible after the briefing on Monday, March 28.

Press Contacts

For more information on this event, contact: Sally Buikema, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, (202) 647-3904 and Kurtis Cooper, Office of Press Relations, (202) 647-2492 2005/351 Notice to the Press (Revised) Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC March 25, 2005

trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation.

United States and Sweden Join Forces to Protect Women and Girls from Sex Trafficking

The United States and Sweden are teaming up to fight the trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation.

In a joint effort, the countries are funding the Prevention Project to support frontline non-governmental organizations to combat human trafficking and prostitution in 12 European countries. The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women and the European Women’s Lobby, both non-governmental organizations, are spearheading the effort.

The Prevention Project will address gaps in gender equality, the demand for sex trafficking victims, and the connection between human trafficking and prostitution. The bilateral program also will help promote equality between women and men as a fundamental part of democracy and human rights.

The United States and Sweden are contributing approximately $330,000 each over two years to the project, which will operate in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, and Serbia and Montenegro.

Ambassador John R. Miller, director of the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, called the partnership an important action to reduce the demand for human trafficking.

“The U.S. and Sweden share common ground in fighting sex trafficking by addressing violence against women, the demand for sexual exploitation and the links between prostitution and human trafficking,” Miller said. “By going after buyers, we can dry up the market for prostitution and the demand for sex trafficking while protecting victims.”

The United States opposes legalized or normalized prostitution because it is inherently harmful and dehumanizing and fuels the growth of human trafficking. Sweden has criminalized the buying of sexual services as an important tool in stamping out sex trafficking and gender inequality. The United States Government estimates that nearly 70 percent of all victims trafficked across borders are used for commercial sexual exploitation, and women and girls constitute 80 percent of all trafficking victims.

For an interview with Ambassador Miller, please contact Public Affairs Specialist Caroline Tetschner at (202) 312-9648 or Gannon Sims at (202) 312-9893.

2005/350 Released on March 25, 2005 Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC March 25, 2005