The McCain Institute applauds the nomination of Cindy Dyer to be the next Ambassador-at-Large to combat human trafficking, overseeing the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP) at the U.S. State Department.
Having served at local, state, national and international levels for more than 25 years, Ms. Dyer brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record in advancing human rights to this important role. Ms. Dyer is widely respected for the indispensable role she has played in advancing complex initiatives to address human trafficking, gender-based violence, sexual assault, and other harmful traditional practices. We commend the Biden Administration on this nomination and hope the Senate will move expeditiously to confirm Ms. Dyer.
Ms. Dyer’s experience working both in government and in civil society, in the U.S. and around the world, well suits her for the role as America’s chief diplomat on all human trafficking matters and the lead coordinator of the U.S. government’s anti-trafficking strategy.
As conflict, migration, food insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic strain resources and further exacerbate vulnerabilities to human trafficking, it is crucial the Senate confirm Ms. Dyer so that the U.S. has its top anti-trafficking leader in place.
“It is more important than ever to confirm an ambassador who has worked in the field and has a demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively with government and non-government stakeholders to identify innovative solutions to address human trafficking,” said Kristen Abrams, Senior Director of Combatting Human Trafficking. “I have the upmost respect for Cindy and complete confidence in her ability to implement a comprehensive approach to address the root causes of human trafficking and exploitation around the world.”
As a human rights expert and lawyer, Ms. Dyer began her career as a specialized domestic and sexual violence prosecutor in Texas, later serving as the Director for the Office on Violence Against Women at the U.S. Department of Justice, and most recently as the Vice President for Human Rights at Vial Voices. Ms. Dyer’s longtime commitment and service to victims and survivors has led her to receive numerous awards and recognitions as a key leader in promoting an evidence-based, survivor-centered response to human trafficking.
The McCain Institute urges Ms. Dyer’s swift confirmation and looks forward to working closely with her and the talented J/TIP team to advance the priorities and efforts of the United States to combat human trafficking.