I am very pleased to be here today to witness firsthand the vital work that the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association is doing to rehabilitate victims of what has become a burgeoning business, the trafficking of women and children. The globalization of the world economy has brought immense benefits in trade and investment and in providing new opportunities for development. However, open borders and the free movement of people has a dark side as well. Here, you are doing something about this problem. It is no accident that action has been taken first by a non-governmental organization.
Civil society is a bedrock of sustainable development.
The global problem of trafficking is receiving new attention in the United States. And I can state personally that both President and Mrs. Clinton are deeply concerned. We are working on a U.S. strategy to combat trafficking and violence against women. I will carry word of your work back to the United States, both to my government in Washington, but also to the United Nations which should play an important role in this area.