The International Human Rights Law Institute (IHRLI) at DePaul University's College of Law will launch a project to study the trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation in the Americas. The establishment of the program will be announced at a special reception at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, 160 E. Pearson St., Von Dome Room. The project will begin operation in January 2000.

     Trafficking of women and children for the purpose of sexual exploitation involves the sell or trade of persons for profit through sexual means. The project will focus on the commercial sexual exploitation of women and children in eight countries in the Americas. The countries include Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico and Uruguay.

     Women and children are the focus of the project because they are among the most vulnerable. They also are often considered criminals rather than victims and are therefore given less legal protection when authorities investigate the commercial nature of the problem.

     "The lack of effective international instruments, domestic legislation and political will to halt the trafficking problem gives urgency to this nearly uncontrolled phenomenon," said M. Cherif Bassiouni, president of the IHRLI and a DePaul law professor. "The institute has decided to focus its investigation on the understudied and unquantified, yet very sensitive and important, global problem of sexual exploitation and trafficking."

     The first phase of the project will last approximately one year and include an examination of national legislation, administrative practices and enforcement methods and their effectiveness in each country. It also will include a comparison of government figures on the phenomenon and its causes and manifestations, and will compare these figures with unofficial ones of specialized non-governmental organizations.

     A preliminary report will be made and its findings discussed with key entities such as officials of the countries being studied. A final report will be submitted to the Inter-American Commission of Women/Organization of American States, certain governments, and the United States Department of State.

     DePaul will collaborate closely with the Inter-American Commission of Women/Organization of American States, which has provided an initial $50,000 grant for the project.

     The IHRLI serves as the umbrella for DePaul's International Criminal Justice and Weapons Control Center and the Jeanne and Joseph Sullivan Program for Human Rights in the Americas. The Weapons Control Center addresses worldwide criminal justice issues and explores the legal aspects of controlling weapons of mass destruction. The Program for the Americas conducts extensive training programs for judges, prosecutors and lawyers in Latin America.

Note to editors: Media wishing to cover the November 18th announcement should contact Valerie Phillips at 312/362-5039.