DECLARATION

We, the participants of the Human Rights Challenge of Globalization in Asia-Pacific-U.S.: The Trafficking of Persons, Especially Women and Children Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii November 15, 2002, Declare:

Trafficking in human beings is a modern form of slavery, morally reprehensible and totally unacceptable. We pledge ourselves to work urgently for the complete eradication of slavery in the world.

We pledge ourselves to build broad coalitions that bring together the concerned agencies, organizations, and individuals to effectively combat trafficking at local, national, regional and international levels.

We call upon the governments of the world to enact and vigorously implement anti-trafficking laws and to coordinate their activities with each other and with partners in civil society.

We call for, and give our full support to, a new grass-roots movement to combat trafficking, to support the victims of trafficking and to work comprehensively towards new preventive and educational measures and policies with the goal of stopping human trafficking everywhere.

We seek to establish a just and safe world for all the world’s people to live together in peace and prosperity, without war. We recognize the need to address structural causes of trafficking and the forms of exploitation and poverty at its root.