Senator Bob Corker, applauded funding for his "bold, bipartisan initiative to end modern slavery" that was included in the Senate Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill, which was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Friday. He said, "The End Modern Slavery Initiative will create a powerful effort in concert with the private sector and foreign governments to help eliminate modern slavery around the globe."
“This important funding for The End Modern Slavery Initiative begins a vigorous effort to help end slavery worldwide, which affects more than 27 million people, especially women and children,” said Senator Corker. “I appreciate the support of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the numerous organizations and faith-based institutions that have helped raise awareness about the devastating conditions of slavery and human trafficking that exists in more than 167 countries around world, including our very own. I’ve seen firsthand the terrible conditions and impacts of slavery, and I am proud that we are another step closer to establishing what will be a transformational initiative.”
The FY 2016 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations bill includes language providing $25 million for this effort to end modern slavery.
On Feb. 26, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously passed The End Modern Slavery Initiative Act of 2015, which will charter a 501(c)(3) non-profit grant-making foundation based in Washington, D.C.
“The End Modern Slavery Initiative Foundation” will fund programs outside the United States that:
· Contribute to the freeing and sustainable recovery of victims of modern slavery, prevent individuals from being enslaved, and enforce laws to punish individual and corporate perpetrators of modern slavery;
· Set out clear, defined goals and outcomes that can be empirically measured; and
· Achieve a measurable 50 percent reduction of modern slavery in targeted populations.
In addition, a number of advocacy groups and faith-based institutions have issued support for the effort including, the Alliance to End Slavery & Trafficking (ATEST), International Justice Mission (IJM), United Way Worldwide, Freedom House, Rotary International, and Circle of Friends, Inc., among others.
Click here for the bill text and here for a summary of the legislation.