site.btaHuman Trafficking Remains Terrible Scourge on Our World, US Charge d’Affaires Says

Human trafficking remains a terrible scourge on our world, US Charge d’Affaires H. Martin McDowell said at the opening of an international conference on strengthening justice systems through a coordinated European response against human trafficking at the Hilton Hotel in Sofia on Tuesday.

McDowell spoke about his six years of work in Moldova. "Over the course of 12 months, I have seen how human trafficking destroys lives and tears families apart," he said, adding that the question we must ask ourselves is: "If we don’t tackle this problem, who will?"

"It would be wonderful to have colleagues from the European Union, the Republic of North Macedonia, and Greece. Their problems are the same as those of the countries represented here today," the diplomat noted. According to him, the networks operating behind the scenes adapt faster. "But we are working hard to stop them," he added. 

McDowell thanked those present, as their efforts make the US a safe country, and reaffirmed the US administration’s commitment to combating human trafficking.

The US ambassador thanked the government, prosecutors, judges, and colleagues who are "on the front lines".

The international conference is organized by the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (NCCTHB) under the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria and the International Justice Mission (IJM), with the participation of partner institutions from Romania and across Europe, and will run from Tuesday through Thursday, May 21. Participants in the conference include representatives of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Europol, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the European Labour Authority (ELA), the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), as well as magistrates, prosecutors, and experts from Bulgaria, Romania, France, UK and other countries.