Commission To Meet On Combating Human Trafficking And Forced Labor

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, January 19, at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern Time), at agency headquarters, 131 M Street, N.E. In accordance with the Sunshine Act, the meeting is open for public observation of the Commission's deliberations.

The Commission will hear from invited panelists on government-wide efforts to combat human trafficking and forced labor, especially in agricultural industries. The meeting agenda includes:

Panel 1: Overview and Government-wide Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking

• Ambassador Luis CdeBaca, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, U.S. Department of State

Panel 2: Labor Trafficking and Exploitation

• Hilary Axam, Acting Director, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section, Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit
• Anna Park, EEOC Regional Attorney
• Sathaporn Pornsrisirisak, Charging Party from EEOC v. Trans Bay
• Panida Rzonca, Program Associate , Thai Community Development Center L.A.
• Ana Vallejo, Supervising Attorney, Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center

Panel 3: Strategies and Tips from Non-Governmental Organizations for Cases Involving Trafficking

• Daniel Werner, Deputy Legal Director, Immigrant Justice Project, Southern Poverty Law Center
• Florrie Burke, co-Chair of Freedom Network USA

A brief question-and-answer session with EEOC Commissioners will follow each panel discussion.

Seating is limited and it is suggested that visitors arrive 30 minutes before the meeting in order to be processed through security and escorted to the meeting room.

The Commission agenda is subject to revision. Additional information about the hearing, when available, will be posted at http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/meetings/index.cfm.

The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.