Remarks at the Final CAAHT Anti-trafficking Conference

USAID/Albania Mission Director, Roberta Mahoney
CAAHT 2009 Final Conference
September 16, 2009 9:00 a.m.

Good Morning Minister Pollo, ladies and gentlemen,

No man, woman, or child should live the horrors of enslavement and yet every year hundreds of thousands of people around the world are forcibly trafficked across borders for labor and sexual exploitation. 

In my capacity as the USAID Mission Director to Albania, I have met and spoken with victims—women, girls and boys who have suffered the cruelty and violence of human trafficking.

It is the responsibility of individuals, of society, and of government to ensure that the rights, freedoms, and dignity of all people are protected and championed.

The U.S. Government issued its first policy against human trafficking in 1998.  Since then,  we have seen many nations around the world work together to raise awareness about and take steps to end human trafficking.

Importantly, Albania is among those nations that now have criminal legislation, and Government commitment to, prohibiting all forms of trafficking human beings.

Yet much remains to be done, particularly in identifying and addressing the root causes of trafficking, including policies and practices that contribute to, support, or facilitate trafficking of vulnerable populations.

The human trafficking phenomenon affects virtually every country, including the United States.  By recognizing America’s own struggle with trafficking, we offer partnership in resolving the problem.

US supported anti-trafficking programs are indeed partnerships.   Over just the last few years, we have invested over $10 million with local governments and civil society to improve Albania’s ability to prevent human trafficking, reintegrate victims, and increase prosecution of traffickers.

Much has been achieved and we are here to reflect on the progress that has been made through the Albanian Initiative: Coordinated Action Against Human Trafficking (CAAHT) program.

One major success is that combating human trafficking is no longer seen as the exclusive responsibility of law enforcement and prosecutors – everyone plays an important role.

You, here today, are evidence of the extent to which officials and citizens of Albania from many different sectors have become involved in anti-trafficking efforts. 

You have established strong, cooperative relationships between government and civil society – and as we’ve learned, this is one of the strongest and most effective ways to fight human trafficking.

You have provided coordinated case support for vulnerable people and reintegrated victims, and this support has increased victim access to social assistance, education, vocational training and employment.

You have ensured that school students are learning about the threats of human trafficking and developing skills to protect themselves and help their peers.

However, these efforts still need to be strengthened and to become part of the fiber of society.

In the coming months and years, the success of Albania’s efforts to fight trafficking — to prevent trafficking of women and children, protect victims, and successfully prosecute traffickers — will be a barometer on government effectiveness in many sectors, including the rule of law and fight against corruption, social protections, border controls, and international cooperation.

Further, allocating adequate human and financial resources is essential to supporting Albania’s resolve and commitment to this issue.

The United Stated government will continue to assess the strength and effectiveness of your efforts and support you in your endeavors.

Success is critical – to the lives of the women and men, girls and boys, who are trafficked, and also to Albania’s future.
Integration into the European Union, visa-free travel, improved foreign investment, all of these priorities are within Albania’s reach, but they cannot be achieved without the continued, concerted efforts by the Government and civil society to combat these serious crimes.

This challenge remains today, and becomes even more critical with the closing of the USAID CAAHT program.  While the program will end, traffickers will not voluntarily abandon their criminal behaviors.

So it falls to each and every one of us, individually and together, to remain vigilant, to watch for and to combat trafficking in our daily lives.  We’ll learn, here today, some of the best ways to do this.

I want to thank all of you here today for your partnership with the CAAHT program over the years and honor your commitment to protect the rights of children, women and minorities, and to end human trafficking in Albania.