Combating Trafficking in Persons

At his September 23, 2003, address to the United Nations General Assembly, President George W. Bush said, "...Commerce in human life generate billions of dollars each year – most of which is used to finance organized crime. There's a special evil in the abuse and exploitation of the most innocent and vulnerable." Trafficking in Persons was one of only four topics that President Bush raised during that speech (full text), and it reflects the commitment of the U.S. Government to combating this modern day scourge. Trafficking in persons refers to actions, often including the use of force, fraud, or coercion, to compel someone into a situation in which he or she will be exploited for sexual purposes, or for labor without compensation.

Trafficking can take place with or without the involuntary movement of victims across borders, and all victims of forced labor or child prostitution are considered to be trafficking victims. Voluntary migrants who are subsequently exploited as described above are trafficking victims, regardless of their initial willingness to cross borders or to enter into employment contracts.

Since October 2001, the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn has issued or administered over $228,732 worth of grants to Estonian and International NGO's to address, quantify and fight trafficking in persons in, through, and from Estonia. The Embassy works together with the Estonian government and other organizations here in a broad range of activities, some of which are detailed below.

TIP Report on Estonia 2005
Our Trafficking Signal: Stop! Op-ed by Colin L. Powell (June 14, 2004)
Trafficking in Persons Report 2004
Estonian translation of the 2004 Trafficking in Persons Report
U.S. Expanding Efforts to Reach Trafficking Victims (May 20, 2004)
Estonian translation of the 2003 Trafficking in Persons report on Estonia
Ambassador DeThomas' opening remarks at The Estonian Women's Studies and Resource Centre Conference, February 18, 2004
Grants Issued by the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn to combat Trafficking in Persons
President Bush's Speech to the United Nations General Assembly (September 23, 2003)
U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2003
U.S. Department of State: Office to Monitor and Combat TIP
Assessment of U.S. Activities to Combat Trafficking in Persons, August 2003
USINFO: Global Issues: Human Trafficking
U.S. Department of Justice: Trafficking in Persons Information


Residents of Estonia: click here to send a message to the U.S. Embassy Information Resource Center, to request that you be included on the distribution list for new information about the fight against trafficking in persons.