Combating Human Trafficking and Forced Labor: The Obama Administration's Global Agenda

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC, March 24, 2010 – American University Washington College of Law will host a conference titled “Combating Human Trafficking and Forced Labor: The Obama Administration’s Global Agenda,” on Wednesday, March 24.  The conference is co-sponsored by the Program on Human Trafficking and Forced Labor of the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, the International Labor Rights Forum, and the Solidarity Center, AFL‐CIO.

Over the last decade, organizations around the world have implemented innovative, effective, rights-based programs to prevent the trafficking of vulnerable persons into forced labor, and to assist victims in reintegrating into their communities. Their work focuses on empowering vulnerable persons and victims to take control of their destinies, demand their rights, and live full lives.

This conference will highlight the results of the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law's Program on Human Trafficking and Forced Labor's global search for two programs that have implemented best practices in the field and will provide a high-profile forum for discussion with their representatives, relevant experts and U.S. officials.

When: March 24, 2010

            9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Where: American University Washington College of Law

             4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20016, Room 603

Full Schedule:

8:30 a.m. – Registration

9:00 a.m. - Welcome Remarks

9:15 a.m. - Promoting the Rights of Migrant Domestic Workers through International Conventions

Ana Avendano, Assistant to the President for Immigration and Community Action, AFLCIO

Carol Pier, Associate Deputy Undersecretary, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor

Antonia Pena, Domestic worker and leader at Casa de Maryland; Member, Coordinating Committee of the National Domestic Worker Alliance

(Ashwini Jaisingh, Casa deMaryland, will translate).

Moderator: Neha Misra, Solidarity Center, AFL‐CIO

10:45 a.m. New Directions for U.S. International Anti-trafficking Policies and Programs

Jane Sigmon, Senior Coordinator for Programs, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, U.S. Department of State

Matt Friedman, Regional Programme Manager, United Nations Inter-agency Project on Human Trafficking

Kathy Blakeslee, Director, Women in Development, U.S. Agency for International Development

Moderator: Ann Jordan, American University Washington College of Law

12:15 p.m. Lunch

12:45 p.m. Regulating Trade in Goods Made with Forced Labor

Marcia Eugenio, Director, Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor

Christian Levesque, Senior Associate, Conrad & Scherer, LLP

Katerina Karousos, Acting Chief, Multilateral Programs Unit, Office of International Affairs, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Moderator: Bama Athreya, International Labor Rights Forum

2:15 p.m. Closing Comments

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