Dr. Melissa Ditmore is a post-doctoral fellow in Behavioral Sciences Training at National Development and Research Institutes in New York. She has written about US policy, trafficking in persons and sex work. She is a member of the board of directors of the Global Network of Sex Work Projects.

Clara Sommarin is a Child Protection Specialist, focusing on Exploitation and Violence, at UNICEF headquarters in New York. She has special expertise in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Anke Strauss is Liaison Officer to the Office of the International Organization for Migration Permanent Observer to the United Nations. She has extensive experience in issues related to international migration, post-crisis transition and recovery, including transitional justice and reparations

The panelists will be discussing US funding policy on trafficking and HIV, the Traffic in Persons Report, examples of US pressure on other countries and their responses, and the consequences for sex workers and people in extremely abusive working conditions in a variety of industries.

Hosted By: The Migration Working Group and Gender Policy Working Group of Columbia
University’s School of International and Public Affairs

Sponsored By: The Urban and Social Policy and Economic and Political Development Concentrations at SIPA; The Asian Pacific Affairs Council and Human Rights Working Group at SIPA; CUPID.