EXPERTS CONVENE TO TACKLE DEMAND FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Press Release from the Legatum Institute Release Time: IMMEDIATE

Legatum Institute hosts London conference with experts from across the world; new initiatives, policies and best practices to counter the demand for millions trafficked every year LONDON, September 15, 2010 – There are more people enslaved worldwide today than in any other time in human history. Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar global industry and now one of the fastest growing international criminal enterprises in the world. Some 800,000 people are trafficked across national borders each year and the number of those trafficked domestically is thought to be in the millions. In relation to child exploitation alone, UNICEF estimates there to be 1.2 million children trafficked each year. On 15th September Legatum Institute is hosting a conference in London - Stepping up the Fight: Tackling Demand for Human Trafficking, bringing together diverse experts from demand countries like the United States, Japan, Denmark, United Kingdom, and Canada to improve both policy and practice. Trafficking in persons transcends political spheres and economic markets, affecting nearly every country in the world. Although human trafficking is steadily being recognized as a widespread criminal enterprise, efforts to deter demand are habitually neglected and the impact on victims is appallingly misunderstood by the wider public. "When people think of demand with regard to human trafficking, they often see the 'John' as some balding perverted wretch, but really these men are regular guys: husbands, boyfriends, and dads. Although it’s just one night for the John—it's a life sentence for the prostituted girl," said Aaron Cohen, Executive Director of AbolishSlavery.org and the best-selling author of "Slave Hunter: One Man’s Global Quest to Free Victims of Human Trafficking” Many developed countries, including Great Britain, are making progress in their efforts to combat modern-day slavery. However, with the current reshuffle in budget allocations in the wake of the financial crisis, experts concur that momentum must be maintained and efforts to curb demand and increase awareness of the worldwide prevalence of exploitation and cruelty must be improved . “Human trafficking is expanding because demand is growing. If we are serious about the fight against trafficking in persons, we must face up to our own complicity and attitudes about practices and products which rely on the degradation and bondage of men, women and children”, added Natalie Gonnella of the , Legatum Institute, organizers of this year’s conference. Over the past year The Legatum Institute has supported the fight against human trafficking globally by highlighting neglected issue areas, particularly those related to demand. Improved collaboration between NGO advocates, media, technology, sports and business leaders will strengthen prevention and protection networks, while engaging wider audiences and supplementing funding gaps. “Stepping up the Fight” will highlight new innovative approaches in which the private sector can engage in two of the conference panels; “Setting High Standards” and “Cutting of Profits”. “Human trafficking is a trade - it is also a crime. The financial sector, and its stakeholders, are in a position to affect both. Awareness raising is not enough. Changes in strategic and operational choices must occur. Can organisations afford to ignore this crime any longer?” Sara Dixon, Stop the Traffik Financial Sector Project With both the 2012 London Olympics and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow approaching, the United Kingdom’s prevention and response to trafficking over the next two years will be one to watch. Legatum Institute’s conference will highlight the highly debated connection between large sporting events and trafficking during the “Cleaning up Sports” panel. Julia Immonen, Sport Against Trafficking, said, "Sport is about uniting people, it shows humans at their best, it shows what drive, determination and the right positive attitude can achieve. It’s so important that we claim it back. Large sporting events should be remembered for the champions and records broken not the abused children, men & women that were trafficked in and violated. Hopefully with the London Olympics we can set the standard? for future events with our anti-trafficking drive". The Legatum Institute anti-tracfficking conference will spotlight the need for greater advocacy and partnership with panel discussions addressing the following demand-based themes: • Setting High Standards: Codes of Conduct and Business Practicev Cleaning Up Sports: Trafficking and Large Sporting Events • Cleaning Up Sports: Trafficking and Large Sporting Events • Protecting the Innocent: Child Vulnerability and Exploitation • Cutting Off Profits: Anti-Corruption and Financial Monitoring <END> About the Conference Stepping up the Fight: Tackling Demand for Human Trafficking will be held at One Whitehall Place on 15th September from 08.30-18.30 featuring Aaron Cohen as the keynote speaker, with expert panellists from organisations like Polaris Project, LexisNexis, Stop the Traffik, the Body Shop International, Resist Exploitation Embrace Dignity, The Helen Bamber Foundation, the Centre for Applied Research on Human Trafficking and George Washington University. About the Legatum Institute The Legatum Institute is an independent research, policy, and advocacy organisation. The Institute's mission is to research and promote the principles that drive global prosperity and the expansion of human liberty and wellbeing. For more information about the Legatum Institute, please visit www.li.com The Institute is part of the Legatum Group, a private global investment organisation focused on investing in the international capital markets and the promotion of sustainable development. For more information about the Legatum Group, please visit www.legatum.com Media Enquiries Natalie Gonnella, Legatum Institute, London, United Kingdom Telephone: +44 20 7148 5400 Email: natalie.gonnella@legatum.com Nick Wood, Media Intelligence Partners, London, United Kingdom Telephone +442030088146 or 07889 617003 Email: nickwood@nickwood.demon.co.uk Hamish Banks, Legatum Group, Dubai, UAE Telephone: +971 4 317 5800 Email: hamish.banks@legatum.com