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Modern-day slavery is a term often used to describe the condition of the estimated one to two million people who are trafficked every year. Most victims are women and girls, and tens of thousands come from Russia. In July, 12 officials from the Russian Federation Ministry of Internal Affairs visited Washington, DC, through Open World for an expert program designed to assist Russia’s efforts to curb this horrific human rights problem.
This was Open World’s first Ministry of Internal Affairs delegation. The delegates that visited are chiefs and deputies of various Ministry departments, and most are members of the Ministry’s newly formed anti-trafficking task force. Open World hosted the visit in association with Vital Voices Global Partnership’s Leadership Institute, a collaboration with Georgetown University providing emerging leaders with skills development in the areas of political participation and civil society; business and entrepreneurship; and combating human rights violations, especially the trafficking of women and girls.
The Russian officials engaged in a series of discussions on the role of law enforcement, interministerial cooperation, public awareness campaigns, and effective partnerships within and outside of the government to halt trafficking. They addressed policy makers and legislators, and also met with anti-trafficking specialists and legal experts. The training, held from July 22 to August 1, 2003, was a follow-up to an anti-trafficking program that Open World and Vital Voices conducted in October 2002.
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