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Metro Washington, DC - March 17, 2008 - The National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) announces its publication of Rights to Survival & Mobility: An Anti-Trafficking Activist's Agenda, a new report highlighting the disproportionate impact of human trafficking on Asian and Pacific Islander women and girls. Human trafficking is the third most profitable underground enterprise, rivaling the drug and arms trade. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that the largest group of persons trafficked into the U.S. are from East Asia and the Pacific.
Rights to Survival & Mobility broadens the discourse on human trafficking to include root causes, such as poverty, gender-based discrimination, globalization and militarism and links human trafficking with race, class, gender and other social justice issues. It also discusses the importance of having a national and organized voice to address the implications of human trafficking on Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities.
"This is a monumental moment for the API women's movement," said Miriam Yeung, Executive Director of NAPAWF. "Human trafficking greatly impacts Asian and Pacific Islander communities. It is critical to break the silence about the exploitation that is happening in our communities and to recognize API women activists who have been leaders in this movement."
The Agenda will be officially released on March 31, 2008 at a launch event in Seattle, WA, where Liezl Tomas Rebugio, NAPAWF's Anti-Trafficking Director will present the report and its recommendations. Joining Rebugio will be community advocates from the Asian and Pacific Islander Women and Family Safety Center and Pinay sa Seattle. "Crafting this report has brought together API women leaders across the country to create a unified national API women's voice against human trafficking," stated Rebugio.
Rights to Survival & Mobility is available here. To order a copy of the report, please contact Liezl Rebugio with your mailing address.
Contact:
Liezl Tomas Rebugio - 206.685.9900 lrebugio(at)napawf.org
Media Coverage
Seattle Times, "Women's forum fighting human trafficking with focus on human rights."
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