In response to today's release of the U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report, International Justice Mission underscores the report's attention to strengthening of the rule of law as a key step to combat modern forms of human trafficking and slavery.

"The protection of individuals under each country's laws is as vital as providing for basic human needs -- it is a matter of life and death," says Gary Haugen, president and CEO of IJM. The organization works to combat human trafficking by bringing immediate rescue to victims and seeking convictions of perpetrators under existing local laws.

By highlighting the cases of individual victims and perpetrators, the 2007 Report gives context to the widespread nature of the crime, prevalent in many countries around the world. One such case is that of Ba Yau, a 70 year-old- brothel mamasan who had eluded arrest for trafficking of minors in three separate cases. Just prior to a recent case, Cambodian police spotted Ba Yau in the brothel district, called an IJM investigator to identify her, and arrested her on the outstanding warrants. Her case went to trial in March 2007, and under Cambodian law, she was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

According to Haugen, for the millions who suffer in slavery today, "there is no substitute for the professional deployment of well-trained and well- resourced police officers of integrity who will protect victims and prosecute perpetrators of these crimes."

About International Justice Mission

International Justice Mission is a human rights organization that rescues victims of violence, sexual exploitation, slavery and oppression. A multi- national team of law enforcement professionals and legal staff conduct criminal investigations and collect evidence to rescue victims and bring perpetrators to justice. IJM was founded by Gary Haugen who was the Officer in Charge of the U.N. investigation into the Rwandan genocide.

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