Embassy of the United States of America to Italy

Embassy of the United States of America to the Holy See

"Joining the Fight Against Modern-Day Slavery" - A Seminar on Trafficking in Persons

Wednesday, October 26, 2005 at Centro Studi Americani, Rome, Italy

Biographical Information

Ambassador John Miller

Ambassador John Miller is Director of the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and Senior Advisor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on human trafficking. The Trafficking in Persons Office coordinates U.S. Government activities in the global fight against modern-day slavery, including forced labor and sexual exploitation, which impacts some 800,000 women, children, and men every year. From 1985 to 1993, Mr. Miller served in the U.S. House of Representatives from the state of Washington. Prior to being elected congressman, he was active in state and municipal governments, serving as Assistant Attorney General for Washington, Vice President and Legal Counsel for the Washington Environmental Council, and Seattle City Councilman.

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Mr. Chris Sandrolini

Mr. Chris Sandrolini is the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See. He assumed his current position in July 2005. Prior to his arrival in Rome, he served as Special Assistant in the State Department’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), and as Director of the Office of Policy, Planning, and Coordination in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). He has also served as Consular Officer in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; as Political Officer in New Delhi, India; as Economic & Commercial Officer in Bratislava, Slovakia; and as Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Calcutta, India.

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Counselor Bruno Brattoli

Counselor Bruno Brattoli is Director of the Department of Equal Opportunity at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and President of the Government Committee on Trafficking in Persons. Counselor Brattoli is also a magistrate of the Italian Supreme Court (Court of Cassazione). He has authored a number of publications on judicial themes as well as labor and equal opportunity issues. He has also participated as a speaker in several seminars and conferences on labor and equal opportunity issues.

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Sebastien Dechamps

Sebastien Dechamps has been the Regional Desk Officer for the Middle East - North Africa Region at Caritas Internationalis ( Vatican City) since 2002. He serves as the Contact Person for all anti-trafficking issues. Previously he worked for three years with Caritas Egypt in Cairo, implementing a Vocational Training project for youth. Following this, he spent five years with Secours-Catholique/Caritas France, in Paris, as the Desk Officer for the Middle East - North Africa Region. He also spent five years as the Head of Communications with the French non-governmental organization "Partage," specializing in the sponsorship and development of children. Sebastien was educated at Louvain-la-Neuve Catholic University ( Belgium) where he graduated in Political Sciences, with a major in international relations. He is married and the father of three children.

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Enrico Pianetta

Enrico Pianetta is an elected member of the Italian Senate within Forza Italia Government coalition. He is President of the Bilateral Committee on Human Rights, and Forza Italia Group leader of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Within Forza Italia he is also responsible for the Office of Policy for European Institutions, and a member of the Office for Italians Abroad. Senator Pianetta has held many positions within Forza Italia, including Honorary Chairman of the Council for Labor and Business and Head of the Non Profit Department. Senator Pianetta has presented a number of bills on human rights protection.

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Isabella Orfano

Isabella Orfano is responsible for international projects within "On the Road," an Italian NGO working with victims of trafficking in human beings. She is also a member of the Experts Group on Trafficking of the EU Commission. Ms. Orfano conducts extensive research on trafficking in human beings and carries out social work in favor of victims of forced prostitution.

She also serves as researcher and advisor to several NGOs, government agencies, and universities, working on domestic and international projects focusing on trafficking in human beings. Ms. Orfano has authored a number of publications on trafficking and has participated as a speaker in several International conferences and seminars. She has a master’s degree in cultural and gender studies from New York University.

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