A hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on the effect that the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), authored by Commission Co-Chair Chris Smith (R-NJ) 20 years ago, has had in addressing the scourge of sex and labor trafficking around the world.
Signed into law in 2000, the TVPA is a landmark piece of legislation that has impacted various countries’ approaches to human trafficking. With its annual tier ranking of countries based on their efforts at prosecution, protection and prevention with respect to trafficking, the State Department has become the lead agency in encouraging other countries to adopt best practices. Subsequent iterations of the law which have renewed and expanded the anti-trafficking mandate have broadened efforts at prevention, including an education component that was part of the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2018 enacted in the last Congress.
Witnesses will analyze the efficacy of the TVPA, the contributions of the annual Trafficking in Persons reports, the role played by other U.S. government agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice, as well as emerging trends in both sex and labor trafficking. Panelists will share their recommendations for further legislative action.
The congressional hearing will be held on Weds., Jan. 15, at 2 p.m. in Room 2200 of the House Rayburn Office Building.
Panel I
· The Hon. John Cotton Richmond, Ambassador-at-Large Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, U.S. Department of State
· Katherine Chon, Director of the Office of Trafficking in Persons and Senior Advisor on Human Trafficking, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Panel II
· Lori L. Cohen, Executive Director, ECPAT-USA
· Neha Misra, Senior Specialist, Migration and Human Trafficking, Solidarity Center
· Limnyuy Konglim, Head of U.S. Liaison Office, International Catholic Migration Commission
· Liat Shetret, senior advisor at Elliptic
This hearing will be open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the interested public, and the media.
Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA) is Smith's Co-Chair of the commission.
