The Embassy of the United States of America in Brunei Darussalam, in collaboration with Youth Against Slavery (YAS) Brunei, hosted a public lecture titled “How We Can All Work Together to Stop Human Trafficking” at the Radisson Hotel today.
Under the U.S. Speaker Program, the lecture was delivered by Ms. Sasha Larkin, Assistant Sheriff of Homeland Security and Investigative Services Division at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police. The lecture discussed the widespread issue of human trafficking as a shared problem affecting countries across the globe, investigated cases studies and best practices from the United States, and explored how the community can work together to eradicate human trafficking.
“Human trafficking is a shared problem that affects Brunei, the United States, and indeed the entire world,” said U.S. Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Caryn R. McClelland. “Traffickers prey on people of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities, exploiting them for their own profit while compromising national and economic security, undermining the rule of law, and harming the well-being of individuals and communities everywhere.”
Following the lecture, Dr. Mu’izz Liew A. Khalid from the Global Awareness and Impact Alliance (GAIA) moderated a discussion with the audience on the prevention, protection and prosecution of trafficking in persons. The lecture was attended by members of the public including community development NGOs and higher education students.
Earlier in the week, Ms. Larkin delivered a two-day workshop on “Combatting Trafficking in Persons: How the Press and Law Enforcement can work together,” which included journalists, investigators and prosecutors from various government agencies. The workshop was designed to build stronger cooperation between law enforcement, non-governmental agencies and the media in addressing human trafficking issues.
According to the U.S. Department of State, an estimated 27.6 million are currently victims of trafficking worldwide. Every year, the U.S. Department of State releases a global Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, which assesses government efforts around the world to combat human trafficking and highlights strategies to address this crime and protect the victims. This report is the world’s most comprehensive resource on governmental anti-trafficking efforts, covering 188 countries, and it reflects the U.S. Government’s commitment to global leadership on this key human rights, law enforcement, and national security issue.
