PRESS RELEASE
Majuro, Marshall Islands – September 10, 2024 — Her Excellency President Dr. Hilda C. Heine delivered a powerful and insightful address at the 2nd Counter Trafficking in Persons Training for Prosecutors and Law Enforcement held at the USP Conference Hall. President Heine joined other distinguished leaders, including U.S. Ambassador Laura Stone, ROC Taiwan Ambassador Steve Hsia, Japan Ambassador Kazunari Tanaka, along with Cabinet Ministers and representatives from USAID, The Asia Foundation, and JICA. The training, which is part of an ongoing effort to combat human trafficking, brought together key stakeholders in the fight against human trafficking.
In her remarks, President Heine highlighted the urgent need to deepen understanding and action against human trafficking, a crime often veiled in obscurity and complexity. She emphasized that the term “human trafficking” does not fully encapsulate the severity of the crime, which she described as “modern slavery.” The President illustrated the various forms of modern slavery, from forced labor in restaurants and factories to exploitation in brothels and dangerous conditions at sea.
President Heine commended the United States for its leadership and support from international partners like ROC (Taiwan), IOM, USAID, and The Asia Foundation, in supporting the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) in its anti-trafficking initiatives. Reflecting on recent legislative progress, President Heine commended the enactment of the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons Act during her first presidency in 2017. This legislation increased penalties for traffickers and established a victim-centered approach, ensuring that victims are protected and receive necessary services without fear of prosecution for offenses committed as a result of trafficking.
“Modern slavery can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any given time,” President Heine asserted. She revealed stark global statistics, noting that approximately 50 million people worldwide are in modern slavery, including 12 million children.
Looking ahead, President Heine outlined key priorities: acceding to the UN Protocol on Trafficking, developing a new National Action Plan, creating safe houses for victims, and establishing an Anti-human Trafficking Fund. She stressed the importance of improving investigation and prosecution efforts and welcomed the training as a crucial step in addressing these needs.
The President concluded by reaffirming her administration’s commitment to tackling human trafficking and encouraged international partners to support these initiatives.
