By Brendan Sweeney
In a short address to an audience of Danish journalists, researchers, politicians and human rights activists in the DIIS auditorium, US Secretary for Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, detailed the efforts being made by the US government to protect the victims of trafficking and strike at the people who earn vast sums by encouraging this trade.
Secretary Napolitano, who was on a short official visit to Copenhagen, described the victims of trafficking as people “lured into the world of prostitution, domestic servitude, unpaid farm labour or other labour,” who are ‘kept in servitude for long periods of time and reluctant to come forward for fear of retribution from their captors.”
One of the key planks in US policy is to target the global human trafficking structure by focusing on the assets and profits being made by traffickers, and by working closely with NGOs who protect the rights of victims of this trade.
International cooperation is another important part of US policy in this area, she said, and this includes collaboration with the Danish police.
“Human trafficking is a global problem that requires a global solution.” said Secretary Napolitano. “The United States, Denmark and all our international partners must continue to work together to better identify and dismantle criminal trafficking organizations.”
In a short question and answer session after her address, Secretary Napolitano was asked to express her opinion on Danish policies regarding prostitution and trafficking but she said she would not comment on the domestic policies of individual countries.
In contrast to Denmark, the United States provides some victims of trafficking with visas and permission to stay in the country. Secretary Napolitano said that they were currently investigating whether the requirements to receive such a visa were too restrictive and whether the programme should be developed further.
While in Copenhagen, Secretary Napolitano also held meetings with the Danish Minister of Justice, Brian Mikkelsen and Minister for Transport, Lars Barfoed, to discuss ongoing multinational efforts to address human trafficking and other criminal activity, as well as transport security and bilateral information-sharing partnerships on crime.
Apart from the Secretary for Homeland Security, the meeting was attended by the US Ambassador to Denmark, Laurie Fulton.
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