September 30, 2003

Press Release

Embassy Issues Grant to Study Extent of Trafficking in Persons

Today, September 30, 2003, the Embassy of the United States in Tallinn issued a grant for over $60,000 (over 800,000 EEK) to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to conduct a project to research the extent of trafficking in persons in, from, and through Estonia; to share the results of this research publicly; and to establish an Estonian national roundtable dedicated to fighting trafficking in persons.

IOM will investigate the scale of trafficking from, through, and to Estonia; the major routes of trafficking; countries and regions of origin and destination; methods of recruitment used by traffickers; and other factors relevant to this criminal and tragic activity. IOM will interview trafficking victims, relevant government authorities, and others who can provide information to better define the extent of the problem.

This project will enhance Estonian and U.S. cooperation in fighting this international scourge. It also reflects the importance to which the U.S. Government attaches to this issue.

As U.S. President George W. Bush said in his recent address to the United Nations General Assembly, "Each year, an estimated 800,000 to 900,000 human beings are bought, sold or forced across the world's borders…. There's a special evil in the abuse and exploitation of the most innocent and vulnerable….The trade in human beings for any purpose must not be allowed to thrive in our time."