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

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2002ROME02624 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED