Q & A with the U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Heroes

Each year, in conjunction with the release of its annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report), the U.S. Department of State honors individuals from around the world who have devoted their lives to fighting human trafficking. These “TIP Report Heroes” include NGO advocates, lawyers, police officers, scholars, and concerned citizens who engage in tireless efforts to protect trafficked persons, to hold traffickers accountable for their crimes, and to raise public awareness of this worldwide problem. On June 19, 2012, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will release the 2012 Trafficking in Persons Report and announce the identities of the 2012 TIP Report Heroes.

The following day, the Open Society Foundations will host the first public question-and-answer session ever to be held with the TIP Report Heroes. This event presents an opportunity for the general public to engage the heroes in discussions regarding their work and their perspectives on efforts to combat human trafficking worldwide. What are the barriers to effective enforcement of anti-trafficking law and policy? What are some examples of best practices in addressing these issues? What advice would the 2012 TIP Report Heroes give to anti-trafficking advocates in the United States? Open Society Foundations Fellow Martina Vandenberg will moderate the discussion.