Former Ambassador Pamela Hyde Smith Speeches

Ambassador Pamela Hyde Smith's speech in Honor of the Opening of the Ungheni Branch Center for Prevention of Trafficking in Women

July 11, 2002

Dear government officials, members of the international community, members of the press and colleagues, I am proud to be here for the opening of the first branch of the Center for Prevention of Trafficking in Women financed by the United States Department of State. I would like to express my sincerest thanks to the center and its director, Ms. Jana Costachi, for their tireless fight against trafficking in women. I want to congratulate the newly selected director of the Ungheni branch, Ms. Tamara Burlacu, and wish her good luck in her future work. I also would like to thank the local authorities of Ungheni for their cooperation and support for the important work of the center.

Trafficking in women is nothing less than a modern-day form of slavery. As Secretary Powell has stated publicly, traffickers prey on the most the most vulnerable members of our human family, violating their most basic rights, subjecting them to degradation and misery. The scope of this hideous exploitation is wide and varied in Moldova, making traffickers difficult to pin down and victims difficult to assist. For all these reasons, the United States Government is deeply concerned about trafficking in women in Moldova, and the Department of State is among the largest donors to the fight against trafficking here. I want to express my government's sincere desire to help the Moldovan people overcome this modern scourge, and to tell you that the United States will continue to aid you in this battle.

The Center for Prevention of Trafficking in Women has since February 2001 been a leader in the fight against trafficking. Jana Costachi has been a pioneer in anti-trafficking efforts since May 2000. Due to the efforts of Ms. Costachi and her staff, the center has helped hundreds of trafficking victims and potential victims. The center is well regarded among members of the international community and the national government in Chisinau. But the problem of trafficking cannot be solved in Chisinau alone. The most vulnerable women are recruited from the Moldovan countryside and then transported abroad. For this reason, regional branches of the center are imperative for effective anti-trafficking efforts. I am proud to see the partnership between the U.S. State Department and the Center spread to Ungheni. Choosing Ungheni was no accident, it was due to the strong interest of the local authorities in supporting the Center's efforts.

The success of the Ungheni branch is very important to future efforts to combat trafficking in Moldova. I have great confidence in its future. Those of you involved in this battle know that it is a difficult one, but one that is indispensable to the future of your country. I have met young women that have returned to Moldova after becoming victims of trafficking. My heart goes out to them, and to you for your efforts to help them. Together, I know we will succeed in shedding light on perhaps the darkest problem of new century. Thank you very much for your attention.