India Press Releases - 2004

March 16, 2004

Corporate Social Responsibility: Addressing Trafficking In Persons US Ambassador David Mulford To Address Workshop On March 19

Calcutta, March 16: The new US Ambassador to India, Dr. David C. Mulford, will address an Eastern India audience for the first time on March 19 at a workshop which the U.S. Consulate General has organized jointly with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the international NGO, Apne Aap Women Worldwide. Mr. Digvijay Singh, Union Minister of State for External Affairs is the Chief Guest of the workshop – “Corporate Social Responsibility: Addressing Trafficking in Persons” – at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Calcutta. The daylong session is expected to be attended by industry leaders, government officials, social activists, and NGO representatives. The U.S. Ambassador will participate via Digital Videoconference (DVC).

Trafficking of women and children for exploitation is a modern day slavery engendering the cruelest of all tortures. There is virtually no nation that does not serve as a source, destination or transit country of trafficked women and chidden. NGOs estimate that a large percentage of those trafficked into abusive situations in India are from the eastern region. Young girls from Bangladesh and Nepal are also trafficked through eastern India for sexual exploitation with 15% of the victims below 15 years of age and 25% below 18.

According to the U.S. Consul General in Calcutta, George N. Sibley, key to fighting the trafficking problem is the building of a nationwide economic network, with the corporate sector as a potentially powerful source of support. Corporate social responsibility is not unknown but trafficking is a new focus for most companies. “We are convening to place the issue before businesses, to create an understanding of the serious crime involved and the vulnerability of child victims, to introduce NGOs in the field and to initiate a corporate-NGO dialogue for partnership in the anti-trafficking campaign, Sibley said

The U.S. is actively partnering with other nations to combat this transnational crime, providing assistance to trafficking victims and striving to highlight the dangers of sex tourism and trafficking. Nearly $93.5 million in U.S. Government funding was devoted to anti-trafficking activities worldwide in 2003.

Consul General Sibley will deliver the welcome address at the inaugural session followed by CII Eastern Region Chairman Sanjay Budhia. Ambassador Mulford and Union Minister Mr. Digvijay Singh will also address the inaugural. Apne Aap founder and Emmy Award winning filmmaker Ruchira Gupta from Washington, D.C. will speak on “Trends in Trafficking.” On behalf of trade and business, Mr. Brij Kishore Jhawar, Vice Chairman, Usha Martin Group, will present his views on “Corporate Participation in Development Activities". Finally, International Justice Mission attorney Ashley Varghese will provide background on the issue of trafficking in persons and related NGO initiatives.”

An NGO session before the formal inauguration will address the synergies and partnerships for NGOs and corporates. Dr. P.K. Agarwal, IAS, Principal Secretary, Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal will serve as the Chief Guest. Notable speakers include Dr. Arvind Singhal, Presidential Research Scholar and Professor, School of Communication Studies, Ohio University, U.S.A., Ms Laura Livingston, Director, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, U.S. Embassy, and Ms Ruchira Gupta of Apne Aap.

The afternoon session will be devoted to interactive group discussions led by speakers including PriceWaterhouseCoopers Partner Anuradha Tuli and Tata Steel Social Services and Family Initiatives Head Shakti Sharma.

Apne Aap (On our Own) Women Worldwide was founded in 1998 by Ms Ruchira Gupta. Gupta, who produced an award-winning documentary on the sex trafficking of girls from Nepal to the brothels of Mumbai, started Apne Aap to help exploited women and children regain their independence. Since its inception, Apne Aap has organized anti-trafficking youth programs, development support programs for HIV+ mothers and their children, and multi-media initiatives. Apne Aap is headquartered in Calcutta with chapters in New Delhi and in New York.