Is longertrump trump. Ka this is about 30 minutes. Good morning. Welcome to the department of state. We have quite the full room. I am the ambassador at large for the office to monitor and combat trafficking in persons. You all for joining us today for the release of the 17th annual trafficking in persons report thank you all for joining us of theor the release 17th annual trafficking in persons report. I was looking for a copy to hold up because im a prosecutor and i like my props. First, secretary of state tillerson will share keynote additionalllowing remarks by advisor to the president , ivanka trump. The event concludes, ill invite you to pick up your own copy of the report. It is an honor to be here this morning with secretary tillerson and ms. Trump, and i thank you both for elevating the issue of Human Trafficking. Now, ladies and gentlemen, secretary of state rex tillerson. [applause] secretary tillerson thank you so much, susan, and thank you to you all for joining us. I want to thank senator corker from the Senate Foreign relations committee, who is here with us this morning. Thank you. This really illustrates the dedication to combating Human Trafficking and the commitment of our country that we have this joint effort under way across the entire United States government, and i also want to thank ambassador coppage for heror coppedge 16year career devoted to this issue. [applause] tillerson i also know that she does not do this alone. We are thankful to her staff and Many State Department colleagues in our cities and consulate offices who help with the preparation of this report, but more importantly, they encourage governments to progress their efforts to combat Human Trafficking. Finally, i want to recognize the survivors of Human Trafficking as well as representatives of and International Organizations with us here today. Thank you for being here for the rollout of this report. Before i get to my prepared , i thought it useful to go back and read the original reason why we do this. This is the victims of traffic and violence protection act of 2000. That is really where this all began. I think it is useful to remind us why we are here this morning, why we are gathered in this room , and what the United States government and the people of the United States are really trying to express. Preamble back to the to this act, i think it really sums it up well. It says the purpose of this act is to combat trafficking in the contemporary manifestation of slavery, whose victims are predominantly women and children, to ensure just and effective punishment of traffickers and to protect the victims. I want to be just one more line. As the 21st century begins, the degrading is the tuition of slavery continues throughout the world. That is why we are here this morning. Then the act goes on to require that the state department prepare this annual report to make an assessment of how governments around the world are taking action to address this. I think it is really through motivatedat this act and what the state department is doing as it meets its obligation as we are identifying first where the problems are, how the problems manifest themselves because they continue to evolve and take on new characteristics. How do we then work with governments to cause them to put in place laws that allow them to then pursue those who participate in these various forms of Human Trafficking . How do we encourage governments to enforce those laws and begin to hold people accountable . Lastly, how do we create the conditions for the victims or potential victims of Human Trafficking so theyre able to come forward in a nonthreatening way and help us understand better how this is occurring. Its really the result of what we do that matter. The report is an important tool to help us understand and help us help other governments understand, but at the end of it, it is the individual. Our abilitytim and to prevent others from being victimized. Human trafficking is as old as humankind. Regretfully. It has been with us for centuries and centuries. But in the expression of this act as i read that line to you, it is our hope to 21st century will be the last century of Human Trafficking, and that is what we are all committed to. [applause] secretary tillerson regrettably, our challenge is enormous. Today, globally, its estimated there are 20 million victims of Human Trafficking, so, clearly, we have a lot of work to do and governments around the world have a lot of work to do. So let me now make a few comments on the report and why it is so important. Obviously, the consequences of our failure to act in this area has so many other negative impacts around the world. It breeds corruption, undermines the rule of law, erodes the core values that underpin a Civil Society. Transnational criminal networks ,lso, if they are drug dealers money lotteries, or document , are participating in Human Trafficking activities as well. State actors or nonstate actors use Human Trafficking to become a threat to our national security. North korea, for instance, depends on forced labor to generate illicit sources of revenue in Industries Including mining and food processing. An estimated 50,000 to 80,000 north korean citizens are working overseas as forced laborers, primarily in russia and china, many working 20 hours a day. Their pay does not come to them directly. It goes to the government of korea, which confiscates most of that, obviously. The north korean regime receives hundreds of millions of dollars fruits ofrom the forced labor. Responsible nations simply cannot allow this to go on, and any nation posting workers from north korea in a forced labor arrangement to send people home. To tiers downgraded three status in this years report, in part because it has not taken serious steps to end its own complicity in. Rafficking American Consumers and business may also recognize they may have an unwitting connection to Human Trafficking. Supply chains creating many that americans enjoy may be utilizing forced labor. The state department does engage with this in us is to alert them to these situations so that they can take actions on their own to ensure that they are not in any way complicit. Most tragically, Human Trafficking praise on the most ,ulnerable Young Children boys and girls, separating them from their families often to be exploited, forced into prostitution or sex slavery. The state Department Cost the state Department Costs the report holdsents them accountable. The focus of this years report is government responsibilities under the palermo protocol to criminalize Human Trafficking in all of its forms and to prosecute offenders. Countries that are not a party to the International Protocol to prevent, suppress, and punish trafficking persons to reconsider their position and join the other countries who have made that commitment. Report also emphasizes governments must put forward andher anticorruption laws enforce them so that traffickers do not get a free pass for those who choose to turn a blind eye. Musttantly, nations educate Law Enforcement partners on how to identify and respond to those who dishonorably where the Law Enforcement uniform or the military uniform by allowing trafficking to flourish. Devastating examples are Police Officers and those whom we rely upon to protect us, that they become complicit through bribery, by actually working in brothels themselves, or obstructing investigations for their own profit. Complicity and corruption allows Human Trafficking from Law Enforcement officials must end. We know shutting down these networks is challenging, but these challenges cannot serve as an excuse for inaction. The 2017 report also recognizes those governments making progress. We want to give them credit for what they are doing. Last year, governments reported more than 9000 convictions of Human Trafficking crimes worldwide, up from past years. Few to mention a highlights, last july, the president of afghanistan ordered an investigation into institutionalized sexual abuse of children by Police Officers, including punishment for perpetrators. Wasanuary, a new law enacted criminalizing a practice that exploits boys for social and sexual entertainment. The government continues to investigate, prosecute, and convict traffickers, including complicit government officials. In the ukraine, a country that has been on the watchlist for years, the office of the prosecutor general issued directives to improve investigations of trafficking and increased efforts to root out complicity, including convictions of Police Officers. A teacher at a governmentrun school, governmentrun boarding school for orphans has been arrested or trying to sell a child, and officials are now on notice that complicity in trafficking will be met with strict punishment. Efforts to combat trafficking had led to the investigation of more than 500 trafficking cases and the arrest from2, an 80 increase 2015. Problem, scale of the though, all of these countries and many more have much to do, but it is important to note their progress and encourage their continued commitment. Other forms of illicit crime, Human Trafficking is becoming more nuanced and more difficult to identify. Much of these activities are going underground, and they are going online. The state department is committed to continuing to agenciesith other u. S. As well as our partners abroad new approaches to follow these activities wherever they go and to train Law Enforcement to help them improve their technologies to investigate and prosecute these crimes. To that end, i am pleased to highlight a state Department Initiative announced earlier this year the program to end modern slavery will increase funding for prosecution, protection, and prevention efforts to reduce the occurrence of modern slavery were ever it is most prevalent. The program is the result of the important support of congress, especially from chairman corker, and other leaders committed to bringing people out from under what is a crime against basic human rights. The program to end modern slavery will fund transformational programs but raiseet about to commitments of 1. 5 billion dollars in supports from other governments and private donors while developing the capacity of foreign governments and Civil Society to work to end modern slavery in their own countries. On this years reports on the state of Human Trafficking the world over, we recognize those dedicated individuals who have committed their lives and in some cases put their lives at risk in pursuit of ending modern slavery. For many victims, theres is the first face of hope they see after weeks or even years of fear and pain. Heroes will be recognized formally in just a few minutes, but i want to thank them and express my own admiration for their courage, leadership, sacrifice, and devotion to ending Human Trafficking. [applause] secretary tillerson as we honor these heroes, we remember that everyone everyone has a role to play. Governments, ngos, private sector, survivors, and most of all, the american people. All must continue to Work Together to make Human Trafficking and in the 21st century. Now, please join me in welcoming and advocate for ending Human Trafficking and someone who is doing a great deal to raise the profile of this issue, advisor to the president of the united ivy ms. Ivy trump ivanka trump. Trump thank you, secretary tillerson, for the warm welcome. It is an honor to join you in the entire state department here today who work tirelessly to remove the ugly stain on civilization that is Human Trafficking. We are grateful for your continued dedication. Also with us this senator corker. I want to thank you for your unwavering commitment to this issue. [applause] it is an honor to be here today at the release of this years trafficking in persons report and to recognize this years hero. Inspireskable work action. Thank you for affording us the opportunity to learn from your impressive example. Human trafficking is a pervasive human rights issue affecting millions, no matter their gender, age, or nationality. It is often a profoundly secret crime, what is the greatest thosenges is to identify trapped in modern slavery. Even conservative estimates conclude that some 20 Million People around the world, including right here in the trapped ines, are Human Trafficking situations. Terrible circumstances of exploitation, including so many young girls and boys who are victims of unthinkable tragedy of child sex trafficking. The stories of those we honor today demonstrate why combating these crimes here in the United States as well as around the globe is in both our moral and strategic interests. As secretary tillerson noted earlier, ending Human Trafficking is a major foreignpolicy priority for the trump administration. Over the past several months, the white house has hosted roundtables and listening sessions with victims, with ngo s, members of congress, and others to determine steps we can take to better execute a strategy to finally end Human Trafficking. The president signed an executive order designed to strengthen the enforcement of federal law with regard to transnational criminal organization, including traffickers. Further, he has taken steps to ensure that the department of Homeland Security personnel are properly trained to combat child trafficking of points of entry in the United States. This years report emphasizes the responsibility of governments have to prosecute human traffickers. It also provides an opportunity for countries to see how others are fighting Human Trafficking the most effective strategies and tactics while renewing their own resolve in the struggle. On a personal level, as a mother, this is much more than a policy priority. It is a clarion call to action in defense of the vulnerable, the abused, and the exploited. Last month while in rome, i had an opportunity to talk firsthand to a Human Trafficking survivors. They told me their harrowing stories, how they were trapped in this ugly, dark mess, how they survived, how they escaped, and how they are very slowly reconstructing their lives. States, we united have our own Advisory Council on Human Trafficking comprised exclusively of survivors. We cannot meaningfully address this pervasive issue without the at theoice of survivors table. They can help us understand what they experience, and they will solvingeading role in this pressing crisis. These survivors are not only victims they are heroes. Crusaders courageous who have committed themselves to fight Human Trafficking wherever it exists. As part of the 2017 report, the state department recognizes individuals who have been tireless in their efforts to combat Human Trafficking. Today, we honor a Police Officer whose efforts led to the edification of 350 children forced into labor, a union leader who protects workers in the fishing industry, a judge who played a Critical Role in drafting her countrys first antitrafficking legislation, a journalist who shines a light on whoed labor, a faith leader works to protect vulnerable migrants, a sociologist whose groundbreaking research considers structural challenges affecting vulnerable populations , and advocate who founded an to care for child sex Trafficking Victims, and is survivor, the first in her country to win civil damages in a sex trafficking case. Of these heroes is a source of inspiration. They all have different backgrounds but are united in the shared cause. We celebrate and we stand with each of you. [applause] ms. Trump as we mark the release of this years report, in us remember the victims the unimaginable horrors of Human Trafficking. Let us recommit ourselves to finding those ill in the shadows of exploitation and let us celebrate the heroes who continue to shine a light on the darkness of Human Trafficking. Now please join me in welcoming , susan coambassador reads the she citations. thank you. Oppege we look forward to continuing our partnership with the trump administration. From argentina. [reading names] in recognition of her extraordinary courage and pursuing justice against her traffickers, her selfless efforts to assist the government in prosecuting and preventing Human Trafficking cas