Holly's News From Washington - The TIP Report is Released!
On Wednesday, the State Department released its annual “Trafficking in Persons” Report, which includes tier rankings of 188 countries based on their efforts (or lack of effort) to meet minimum anti-trafficking standards. I am happy to share that the 2013 TIP Report represents a major victory in the U.S. commitment to leadership on the issue of modern-day slavery.
Here’s why:
Read MoreExciting News from DC on Our Letter to the President!
The anti-slavery cause got a huge boost last week when a prestigious advisory group to President Obama released comprehensive recommendations on ending trafficking at home and abroad. The report was produced by the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The Council is a group of faith leaders who are appointed for one year to advise the president on public policies of particular concern to people of faith.
Read MoreTVPRA Passes in the Senate!
In an historic decision this morning (and on the anniversary of Lincoln’s birthday), the U.S. Senate finally passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA)—extending critical protection to millions of men, women and children trapped in slavery around the world.
Leading the efforts to pass the TVPRA this year were Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL). After the TVPRA failed to pass last session, these senators worked diligently across party lines to uphold this important piece of our nation’s anti-slavery history.
The Long Struggle with Slavery
Read MoreNews from Washington: The Hard Work Begins
On November 7, members of my team at IJM straggled in throughout the day after going to the polls in DC, Maryland and Virginia to vote. They were frozen – it was in the mid-thirties – but no matter which party and candidate they voted for, my colleagues were proud to stand in line for hours and cast their ballots. It is a great and good thing to live in a democracy, and voting reminds us of that. As President Obama noted in his speech last night, the very intensity of arguments between candidates with very different visions of how our country should be governed is a tribute to the freedom of speech and opinion that we Americans are blessed to have.
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