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Polaris Project Recognized During 2009 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting

Eradicating US Trafficking & Slavery as a Replicable World Model

Polaris Project Recognized During 2009 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting

Eradicating US Trafficking & Slavery as a Replicable World Model

Published 09-24-09

Submitted by Polaris Project

Polaris Project, a leading organization in the United States combating human trafficking and modern day slavery, will be highlighted on stage today during the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) annual meeting. Polaris Project's commitment was selected from a large pool of member commitments as an exemplary approach to addressing the global challenge of human trafficking.

"As a new initiative, this commitment will focus on increasing public-private partnerships between NGOs, private businesses, and governments in the United States, Japan, and other '4D Nations' -- demand-creating, migration destination, developed democracies," said Ambassador Mark P. Lagon, Executive Director and CEO of Polaris Project, who until recently was Director of the U.S. State Department's trafficking in persons office. "These strategic partnerships and active best-practice sharing will not only directly impact the scope of human trafficking in these countries, but also ultimately serve as models to share with the developing world."

Human trafficking is the modern day practice of slavery and it is one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world. It is estimated that there are 27 million people in modern day slavery. Every year human traffickers generate billions of dollars by using force, fraud, and coercion to subject U.S. citizens and foreign nationals into acute sexual or labor exploitation. Those exploited include minors and adults.

Polaris Project's commitment, Eradicating US Trafficking and Slavery as a Replicable World Model, is to develop a holistic campaign to reduce the profitability and incidence of human trafficking for victims of labor and commercial sexual exploitation through policy advocacy; training; scaling up national hotline operations; providing victim services; raising social consciousness; building public-private partnerships; and facilitating Corporate Social Responsibility projects. The initiative will first be implemented in the United States and Japan, and subsequently serve as a model for other countries.

Since 2005, the Clinton Global Initiative has merged the efforts of government, private companies, and non-governmental organizations with the intent of expanding public service to produce a worldwide effect. One of this year's themes is the empowerment of women and girls. Eradicating human trafficking and modern day slavery is an issue of particular focus.

Polaris Project will be recognized during the plenary session Building Human Capital - Creating Good Jobs and Strong Communities between 1:00 - 2:00 P.M. at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, Metropolitan Ballroom, 2nd floor.

Polaris Project is the leading organization in the United States combating all forms of human trafficking and serving both U.S. citizens and foreign national victims, including men, women, and children. We use a holistic strategy, taking what we learn from our work with survivors and using it to guide the creation of long-term solutions. We strive for systemic change by advocating for stronger federal and state laws, operating the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline (1.888.3737.888), and providing services to help our clients and all victims of human trafficking. For more information, visit www.PolarisProject.org.

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