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Vera Lesko, pioneering Albanian anti-trafficking activist and president
of The Hearth of Vlora Women, will receive the 2003 Anti-Slavery
Award from Anti-Slavery International, the world's oldest international
human rights organisation, on Thursday 20 November at Waterstones
Bookshop, Piccadilly in London.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Carole Howlett of the Metropolitan
Police will present the Award to Vera Lesko for her outstanding
work against the trafficking of women and girls into sexual exploitation.
In 1997, Vera founded The Hearth, which has successfully raised
awareness of the issue among communities at risk and with police
and officials, achieving increased acknowledgement of the problem
and greater official co-operation. However, Albania remains one
of the key countries from which women are trafficked.
The Hearth established the first shelter in Albania for trafficked
women and children in 2001, providing vital medical, legal and counselling
services as well as safe shelter.
Hundreds of women and children are trafficked to the UK each year;
many from or through Albania. Although trafficking for prostitution
is illegal in Albania, there is no law that protects victims of
this abuse.
Human trafficking is the fastest growing form of slavery today;
at least 800,000 people are trafficked across borders each year,
according to a recent US Government report. Traffickers use deception,
coercion and violence to trick their victims and force them into
a range of exploitative work including prostitution, domestic work,
farm labour and construction. Penalties are insufficient to deter
traffickers and people who have been trafficked are frequently treated
as criminals rather than as victims of human rights abuse. It is
vital governments make fighting this abuse a priority and ensure
that protection of trafficked people's rights are central to any
laws and policies developed.
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- The ceremony will be held on Thursday 20 November
at 7.00pm at: Waterstones Bookshop, The Simpson Room (top
floor), 203-206 Piccadilly, London,
W1V 9LE
- For an interview with Vera Lesko or to attend the
Award ceremony, please contact Beth Herzfeld, Anti-Slavery
Press Officer, on 020 7501 8934 or email: b.herzfeld@antislavery.org
- Background information: Vera
Lesko & trafficking
in Albania
- Vera Lesko speaks Albanian and will be accompanied
by an interpreter
- A VNR interview of a girl trafficked from Albania
to the UK is available
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