PROGRAM EVALUATION FOR U.S. SPEAKERS WIDNEY

UNCLAS ROME 002624 SIPDIS FOR IIP/G/EUR CSIEMONH; IIP/G RCROSS-NAJAFI; IIP/T/GIC CLACOVEY; EUR/PPD/RHILTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP PRC SUBJECT: PROGRAM EVALUATION FOR U.S. SPEAKERS WIDNEY BROWN, HRW AND KATHRYN MCMAHON, CAST, MAY 14-17, 2002 (TRACKER NUMBER 15352) ¶1. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY: PA ROME BROUGHT TWO U.S. SPEAKERS KATHRYN MCMAHON, DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND TRAINING, COALITION TO ABOLISH SLAVERY & TRAFFICKING (CAST),AND WIDNEY BROWN, ADVOCACY DIRECTOR FOR THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS DIVISION, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, TO A CONFERENCE ENTITLED "21ST CENTURY SLAVERY - THE HUMAN RIGHTS DIMENSION TO TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS," HELD MAY 15-16 IN ROME. THE EVENT WAS UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 ROME 02624 301548Z SPONSORED BY THE U.S. EMBASSY TO THE HOLY SEE AND A CONSORTIUM OF EMBASSIES ACCREDITED TO THE HOLY SEE. MCMAHON WAS ALSO PROGRAMMED IN TURIN, MAY14. ¶2. DATES: MAY 15-16; 3RD QUARTER; FISCAL YEAR: FY2002. ¶3. JUSTIFICATION/OBJECTIVE: THE U.S. EMBASSY TO THE HOLY SEE SOUGHT WITH THIS CONFERENCE TO RAISE GLOBAL CONCERN ABOUT TRAFFICKING BY BRINGING TOGETHER U.S., ITALIAN AND INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGO) REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS THE HUMAN RIGHTS DIMENSION OF TRAFFICKING, TO COOPERATE ON LAUNCHING NEW REHABILITATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND TO EXPLORE WAYS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY PROVIDE HUMAN RIGHTS ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO TRAFFICKED PERSONS. ¶4. MPP UMBRELLA THEMES: COOPERATION ON GLOBAL ISSUES, PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ¶5. AUDIENCE REACHED: OVER 400 CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING ITALIAN AND INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERTS; POLICY MAKERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, REPRESENTATIVES FROM NGOS, JOURNALISTS, REPRESENTATIVES FROM DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS TO THE HOLY SEE, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HOLY SEE. ¶6. RESULT/IMPACT: EXCELLENT. PA ROME WAS PLEASED TO WORK WITH EMBASSY VATICAN IN ITS EFFORTS TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS. THE CONFERENCE, CO-SPONSORED BY EMBASSY VATICAN, OTHER DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS TO THE HOLY SEE AND THE HOLY SEE ITSELF, WAS HELD AT THE PONTIFICAL GREGORIAN UNIVERSITY, A UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 ROME 02624 301548Z PRESTIGIOUS VATICAN ACADEMIC INSTITUTION IN THE HEART OF ROME. U.S. SPEAKERS WIDNEY BROWN AND KATHRYN MCMAHON EACH GAVE PRESENTATIONS TO OVER 100 CONFERENCE ATTENDEES AND, ON THE MARGINS OF THE SESSIONS, CONNECTED WITH MOST OF THE OVER 400 ITALIAN AND INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS. BOTH BROUGHT A VERY PRO-ACTIVE, AMERICAN VIEWPOINT TO THE CONFERENCE. IN HER PRESENTATION, MCMAHON EXPLAINED THE MANY WAYS IN WHICH CAST ASSISTS VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING, WHILE BROWN, SPEAKING ON "REHABILITATION/REINTEGRATION TO SOCIETY OF TRAFFICKED VICTIMS," ADDRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF CHANGING PUBLIC OPINION THROUGH EDUCATION AND AWARENESS-RAISING CAMPAIGNS WHICH PRESENT TRAFFICKED PERSONS AS VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. MEDIA COVERAGE WAS EXTENSIVE, INCLUDING OVER 35 ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS WITH AMBASSADOR TO THE HOLY SEE JAMES NICHOLSON IN THE ITALIAN AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA. MCMAHON ALSO HAD A PROGRAM IN TURIN ON MAY 14, WHERE SHE GAVE A PRESENTATION TO "GRUPPO ABELE," AN ITALIAN NGO WHICH IS ACTIVE IN THE EFFORT TO PREVENT TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS AND TO REHABILITATE VICTIMS. ¶7. NON USG SOURCES OF IN-COUNTRY FUNDING/IN-KIND SUPPORT: THE CO-SPONSORS OFFERED MEALS AND A RECEPTION. ¶8. QUALITY OF U.S. OFFICE SUPPORT: GOOD. DEAN. UNCLASSIFIED > 2002ROME02624 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED