2007 Paul Wellstone Anti-Slavery Ambassador of the Year
Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
Washington, DC
January 31, 2008
The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP) is pleased to announce the selection of Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger, U.S. Ambassador to Kenya, as the recipient of this year’s Paul Wellstone Anti-Slavery Ambassador of the Year award.
Ambassador Mark P. Lagon, Director of G/TIP, recently recognized the achievements of Ambassador Ranneberger during a visit to Kenya on January 25. Ambassador Ranneberger was selected from an impressive field of candidates, representing posts in all six geographic regions and International Organizations.
Under Ambassador Ranneberger’s leadership, Embassy Nairobi has emerged as a leader in Africa on ending the trade in people.
In response to Kenya’s placement for the past two years on the Tier 2 Watch List, Ambassador Ranneberger has redoubled his mission’s focus on the tragedy of trafficking, and has made the abolition of modern-day slavery a top priority at Post by encouraging Embassy staff to actively engage the community in raising public awareness, especially about child labor and child sex tourism. His commitment and passion are manifest in remarks he made at the Day of the African Child celebration in Mombasa and at the launch of the G/TIP-funded Solidarity Center report “Trafficking in Persons from a Labor Perspective, the Kenyan Experience.”
He has been instrumental in using his influence to encourage hospitality sector businesspeople to sign the ECPAT Industry Code of Conduct Against Child Sex Tourism and to create a District Committee to fight child sex tourism in Malindi.
Ambassador Ranneberger is a model for other U.S. ambassadors seeking to make a serious impact on one of the greatest human rights issue of our time: modern-day slavery.
In naming this year’s award after the late Senator Paul Wellstone, G/TIP honors and celebrates Senator Wellstone’s passion for defending human rights and justice around the world. His support of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and his vital role in the creation of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons were catalysts for our continuing struggle to end human trafficking.
The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons provides the tools to combat trafficking in persons and assists in the coordination of anti-trafficking efforts both worldwide and domestically. Please visit www.state.gov/g/tip or call 202-312-9639 for more information.
|
