Humanity United News
Federal Spending Bill Includes Dramatic Increases to Help Fight Modern-Day Slavery
December 16, 2009
Alliance of anti-slavery groups helps to secure largest ever increase
Media Relations Contact:
Julia Thornton, 650.587.2030 or jthornton@humanityunited.org
REDWOOD CITY, CALIF. — The 2010 federal spending bill, approved by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama today, provides for a landmark increase in government resources to fight modern-day slavery and human trafficking. The increase of nearly $12 million over last year is one of the largest in recent history, significantly bolstering total U.S. government spending to fight modern-day slavery. Legal nowhere yet present in every country, modern-day slavery and human trafficking present one of the world’s most pressing human rights challenges. There are more slaves on the planet today than at any time in human history—an estimated 27 million.
Leading the effort to secure this historic increase was a coalition of anti-human trafficking and anti-slavery organizations known as the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST). A project of the Silicon Valley-based philanthropic organization Humanity United, ATEST spent the last 12 months conducting comprehensive, coordinated outreach to Congress and federal agencies. ATEST met with congressional committee chairs and staff and, among other efforts, coordinated with the Congressional Caucus on Human Trafficking to help secure support for the increased funding.
As a result of the efforts of ATEST and other leading organizations in the human rights community, unprecedented federal resources will be available in 2010 to expand human trafficking investigations and prosecutions, support trafficking survivors, and foster international cooperation to combat modern-day slavery worldwide. This includes a 25 percent increase in funding ($12.5 million total) toward expanded counseling, protection, housing, and legal assistance to trafficking survivors in the United States. The Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit will receive a 50 percent increase in funding ($5.3 million total). The FY10 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Conference Report also requires the Department of Justice to have a “Trafficking in Persons” contact in every U.S. Attorney’s Office. Meanwhile, the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP) at the State Department will receive a 34 percent increase in funding (more than $6 million total) and the Department of Labor’s International Labor Affairs Bureau will receive a 7-percent increase in funding ($93 million total). Altogether, these funding increases broaden the capacity of U.S. agencies to respond to human trafficking in the United States.
“The U.S. government’s 2010 appropriations package demonstrates Congress’ increased attention to and commitment toward combating human trafficking and modern-day slavery in the United States and abroad,” said Humanity United President and CEO Randy Newcomb. “We applaud the bold, bipartisan leadership of Congress on this issue, President Obama’s courage in taking this critical step toward making human trafficking a top priority at the federal level, and the hard work of all ATEST members in helping to secure this historic increase in federal funding.”
This year was the first in ATEST’s multi-year strategy to raise awareness about human trafficking in federal appropriations discussions and to increase funding for anti-trafficking programs. ATEST was formed in 2007 as a project of Humanity United. It consists of nine member organizations: the Alliance to Stop Slavery and End Trafficking (ASSET), the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST), Free the Slaves, the International Justice Mission (IJM), the Not for Sale Campaign, the Polaris Project, the Ricky Martin Foundation, Solidarity Center, and Vital Voices. The coalition appreciates the leadership of Senators Barbara Mikulski (Md.), Richard Shelby (Ala.), Patrick Leahy (Vt.), Judd Gregg (N.H.), Tom Harkin (Iowa), and Thad Cochran (Miss.); and Representatives Alan Mollohan (W.Va.), Frank Wolf (Va.), Nita Lowey (N.Y.), Kay Granger (Texas), Dave Obey (Wis.), and Todd Tiahrt (Kan.), who worked tirelessly to secure these federal resources to combat this crime against humanity. ATEST also appreciates the bipartisan efforts of the House Human Trafficking Caucus to support anti-trafficking programs and ensure full implementation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.
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About Humanity United
Humanity United is a philanthropic organization committed to building a world where mass atrocities and modern-day slavery are no longer possible. By helping to build permanent constituencies to end atrocities and slavery, supporting efforts that empower affected communities, and addressing the root causes of conflict and injustice, Humanity United seeks to help restore human dignity in places where it has been lost and to help create a lasting global peace. To learn more, visit HumanityUnited.org.
