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Shared Hope International News Release
March 9, 2005
Contact: Karrie Delaney
Director of Communications
Tel: 703.351.8062
Karrie@sharedhope.org
Founder of International Organization Combating Sex Trafficking of
Children and Women to Testify Before U.S. House of Representatives to
Grow Support of Victims in the U.S. and Abroad
Washington, DC (March 9, 2005) - Leading activist for victims of sex trafficking and Founder of Shared Hope International, former Congressman Linda Smith, today announced, she will give testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives International Relations Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations regarding H.R. 972, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005. The hearing will commence on Wednesday, March 9, 2005 at 11:00am EST to be held in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2172.
The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (H.R. 972) enhances efforts and services to combat international and domestic sex trafficking, assists trafficked victims, ensuring that U.S. government personnel who exploit children overseas are punished, encourages increased enforcement against unlawful commercial sexual activity and protects women and children in post conflict situations and humanitarian crises from traffickers.
As part of her testimony, Mrs. Smith will address the provisions to create pilot programs for long-term residential care facilities for trafficking victims in the United States and abroad and the provisions related to the protection of children in post-conflict situations and humanitarian crises.
“In our effort to combat the demand for sex trafficking of women and children, I am encouraged by the continued commitment of many in Congress to fine-tune and further develop our anti-trafficking efforts at home and abroad. The United States government demonstrates it's most noble leadership by holding our allies feet to the fire, encouraging them to take all necessary efforts to address trafficking in persons in their country.” Mrs. Smith added, “Most notably, this bill strengthens our efforts to provide direct services for the trafficked victim and to aggressively tackle the demand that creates these market places of victimization.”
To read Linda Smith's full testimony and for more information on Shared Hope
International, please visit www.sharedhope.org.
About Shared Hope International
Shared Hope International exists to intervene for the purpose of rescue and restoration of women and children in crisis. We are leaders in a worldwide effort to prevent and eradicate sex trafficking and slavery through education and public awareness.
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