Mon. June 13, 2011, Congressional Hearing Focuses on Trafficking; Report of 600,000 Trafficked Child Brides Trapped In One Chinese City
Chai Ling, Founder of All Girls Allowed calls on China to improve anti-trafficking programs
WASHINGTON DC – Up to 600,000 child brides live in one Chinese city with a population of 3 million, reports humanitarian organization All Girls Allowed (AGA) at a Congressional hearing Monday, June 13. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
AGA sent field workers to study the city of Putian and its surrounding areas for months. “Almost every family has 7 or 8 ‘siblings’”, report the authors. “Of these, at least a quarter have been trafficked.” More on the problem of trafficking is available here: http://www.allgirlsallowed.org/trafficking-china.
The Africa, Global Health and Human Rights Subcommittee Hearing, entitled “ Best Practices and Next Steps: A New Decade in the Fight Against Human Trafficking” is set for Monday, June 13, at 2:30 p.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2172, or via LIVE webcast: www.hcfa.house.gov. Founder Chai Ling will give a report on the status of trafficking in China. Field Operations Director Zhang Jing is also available for interviews following the hearing.
“China can do so much more to end this problem,” says Ling. “In the U.S.A., we lose 115 children per year to this sort of “stranger” kidnapping—to people outside of the family’s network. In China, it’s at least 550 a day. We know that through China’s many new technologies and genuine prioritization of the issue, the leadership can find a way to return thousands of lost children and prevent additional kidnappings.”
Following the hearing, Ling will unravel a large banner with the profiles of 2500 missing children, just like the banners used by petitioners and rescue workers in China. In a three minute film, a trafficker explains the supply and demand climate for stolen brides in today’s China, and how he actually sold his own girlfriend and youngest son into slavery (Footage taken from China’s Stolen Children).
Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights will host the hearing, which will include witnesses from several leading anti-trafficking organizations and businesses.
Read Ling's full statement here: http://www.allgirlsallowed.org/2175-stolen-children-and-child-bride-city-putian-exposing-chinas-massive-trafficking-problem
WHAT: OPEN hearing of the Committee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights
WHERE: Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building (and available live, via the WEBCAST link on the Committee website at http://www.hcfa.house.gov)
DATE: Monday, June 13, 2011
TIME: 2:30 p.m.
SUBJECT: Best Practices and Next Steps: A New Decade in the Fight Against Human Trafficking
WITNESSES: The Honorable Luis C. de Baca
Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
U.S. Department of State
Ms. Deborah Cundy
Vice President
Carlson Companies
Ms. Chai Ling
Founder
All Girls Allowed
Ms. Nancy Rivard
President and Founder
Airline Ambassadors International
Mr. Philip Kowalcyzk
President
The Body Shop
Mr. Kevin Bales
Co-founder and President
Free the Slaves
Mr. David Abramowitz
Director of Policy and Government Relations
Humanity United
