Several members of the Helsinki Commission, which is “an independent federal agency, which by law monitors and encourages progress in implementing provisions of the Helsinki Accords,” has written to Richard L. Armitage asking about what is being done to ensure that, “U.S. contractors do not participate in prostitution … in Iraq or elsewhere”. The letter cites the fact that in post-conflict Bosnia and Kosovo, prostitution was allowed to develop and “thrive due to the arrival of large numbers of multinational personnel involved in post-conflict reconstruction and peacekeeping”. The letter was sent to ensure that this would not happen in post-conflict Iraq, and inquires as to what safeguards are in place to protect the Iraqi women and children.
“The United State and the international community failed to address these issues at the outset in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo” because of our lack of foresight in this matter, we are still combating the human trafficking industry that has evolved there. The letter asks the deputy to provide information about what is being done to ensure that sex trafficking and prostitution will not develop in Iraq “because of the influx of international civilian and military personnel from the United States and other countries”.
Title: Combating Prostitution, Human Trafficking in Iraq
Source: Scoop World, 5/30/10
Press Release Media Contact: Ben Anderson
URL: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0305/S00297.htm
Faculty Evaluator: Sheila Katz, Sonoma State University
Student: Jordan Hall 12/6/10, Sonoma State University