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U.S. State Secretary Kerry to honor Shelter "Safe House" lawyer Miruskina

BC, Riga, 27.07.2015.Print version

U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry will release the 2015 "Trafficking in Persons" (TIP) report this morning at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., and honor this year's TIP report heroes, including Latvia's Gita Miruskina, lawyer at the non-governmental organization "Patverums "Drosa Maja"" ("Shelter "Safe House"") in Riga, reports LETA.

 

As the U.S. Embassy in Riga informed LETA, Miruskina 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. She is the first Latvian to be named a TIP report hero by the U.S. Secretary of State.

 

"Shelter "Safe House"" works directly with sex and labor trafficking victims, assisting them in their recovery and providing vital legal aid. The embassy informs that Miruskina 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.

 

Miruskina 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, Miruskina has assisted more than 150 trafficking victims and acted as their legal representative in nearly 30 trials.

 

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, the embassy informs.





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