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Secretary Kerry to Host 2015 Trafficking in Persons Report Launch Ceremony and Honor Latvian Lawyer Gita Miruškina as a Hero

Ievietots: 10.07.2015

                                       

 

Secretary of State John F. Kerry will release the 2015 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report at 10:00 a.m. on July 27, 2015, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.  Secretary Kerry will also honor this year’s TIP Report Heroes, which include Latvia’s Gita Miruškina, a lawyer at NGO Shelter Safe House.

Ms. Miruškina is one of just eight men and women chosen worldwide for the award, which recognizes the tireless efforts they have made in the global fight against modern slavery.   Ms. Miruškina has dedicated her life to assisting victims of human trafficking and enhancing the legal understanding of trafficking in persons in Latvia and the European Union.  She is the first Latvian to be named a TIP Report Hero by the U.S. Secretary of State.

Ms. Miruškina also has been instrumental in alerting the EU to the issue of “sham marriages” – brokered marriages between EU passport-holders and third-country nationals. These marriages are arranged so that the latter can become eligible for immigration benefits – a practice that often leads to sex and labor trafficking, especially of women from Eastern Europe.

In the past six years, Ms. Miruškina has assisted more than 150 trafficking victims and acted as their legal representative in nearly 30 trials, including Latvia’s first labor trafficking trial, a landmark case that is still ongoing. She is also one of the operators of the 24/7 Helpline for Prevention of Human Trafficking (+371) 28612120*. Gita provides consultations daily regarding issues connected with trafficking in human beings. In the first half of 2015 helpline operators gave given 107 consultations in comparison to 220 throughout 2014. Mostly advice is given in cases of fictitious marriage.

As required by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), the U.S. Department of State’s TIP Report assesses government efforts around the world to combat modern slavery.  This year`s report, the 15th installment, includes narratives for 188 countries and territories, including the United States.  This year also marks the 15th anniversary of the TVPA.

*Helpline for Prevention of Human Trafficking has been established within the framework of the project “Society`s “Shelter “Safe House”” Action Support Programme to Reduce Human Trafficking in Latvia”, which has been implemented by the society since 2013. The project is funded by the EEA financial instrument and the Latvian state. Find out more about the EEA Financial Mechanism programme NGO Fund here. Website of the Society Integration Foundation: http://www.sif.lv Website of the EEA Financial Mechanism in Latvia: http://www.eeagrants.lv Official website of the EEA Financial Mechanism: http://www.eeagrants.org. Responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the society “Shelter “Safe House””. 

More information:

Ilze Millere, U.S. Embassy Riga, Public Affairs Section, e-mail: MillereI@state.gov

Rasa Salina, NGO "Shelter "Safe House"", PR Specialist, e-mail: rasa.salina@gmail.com

Visit of General Attorney of the United States, 02.06.
General Attorney of the United States - Loretta Lynch visited Society "Shelter "Safe House"" on 2 June. She and the Minister of Justice of Latvia Dzintars Rasnacs met representatives of “Shelter “Safe House”” to learn about the accomplishments of the organization in the area of combating human trafficking. After the meeting, General Attorney and Minister Rasnacs participated in a press briefing to recognize the accomplishment of Society "Shelter "Safe House"" in combating of human trafficking and congratulate lawyer of "Shelter "Safe House"" Gita Miruskina who is a Latvian nominee of 2015 for the award of Hero of the Report of the State Department "On Combating of Human Trafficking". Authors of the photos: Ministry of Justice, USA Embassy in Riga, "Shelter "Safe House"". 12.06.2015.