Are governments doing enough to combat Human Trafficking?  This was the theme of a panel discussion moderated by Director, Dr. Arthur Hirsh, at the Vienna campus Monday evening, January 23rd, 2012.  Four experts addressed the complex issues involved in this modern-day form of slavery of the 21st century: 

• Ambassador Dr. Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger, National Coordinator on Trafficking in Human Beings for the Austrian govt
• Christopher Hoh, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Vienna,
• Dr. Helga Konrad, former Austrian govt. minister for Women’s Issues;
• Eva Kaufmann, from the leading Austrian NGO intervening on behalf of Victims of Trafficking in Women

While the diplomats made it clear that governments have done a lot by putting in place structures and laws for combating Human Trafficking, the victim advocates argued that such actions have helped only one percent of the total number of Trafficking victims. This means there is a lot more to be done in the areas of Prevention by attacking the root causes of Trafficking, Protection (of victims), and Prosecution (of perpetrators). All panelists agreed that partnership of national governments, international organizations, and NGOs is the path for moving from just “managing” the problem, to actually solving it.

During the Reception following the panel, Webster students had the opportunity to talk one-on-one with the panelists and learn more about this complex issue.