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Press Release
Ethiopian Ambassador
Endorses Global Fight Against Human Trafficking
Thursday
January 19, 1:10 pm ET
WASHINGTON
, Jan. 19 -- His Excellency Kassahun Ayele,
Ethiopia
's ambassador to the
United States
, today conveyed his government's support of worldwide efforts to combat human
trafficking.
Noting that President Bush last week
signed into law the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act,
Ambassador Kassahun said:
"The government of
Ethiopia
joins the
United States
and other countries in fighting the scourge of human trafficking. We will do
everything in our power to put an end to prostitution -- one of the worst forms
of slavery. While these conditions are 'unspeakably evil,' as President Bush put
it so clearly, they become even more heinous when people are dragged across
international borders against their will."
Ambassador Kassahun pointed out that
Ethiopian law prohibits human trafficking in strong terms. "Prostitution,
especially child prostitution, is treated as a serious crime under Ethiopian
law," he said. "Our culture prohibits it and this prohibition is
embedded in Article 597 of the Ethiopian Criminal Code."
The ambassador said his country "is
ready and able to cooperate with the
United States
in combating trans-border human trafficking."
Ambassador Kassahun also expressed his
gratitude to the Members of the U.S. Congress who worked to assure passage of
the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, including Senator Sam
Brownback and Representatives Deborah Pryce, James Sensenbrenner, and
Christopher Smith. "We understand that Representative Smith, in particular,
shepherded this legislation from start to finish," Ambassador Kassahun
said. "This shows a strong empathy for the plight of women and children who
are victimized for unmentionable purposes, by people who take advantage of their
lack of resources, education, and stability
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