Ambassador John Miller, a former congressman who leads U.S. efforts to combat human trafficking, is resigning to join the faculty of George Washington University.

Miller, who has headed the State Department's anti-slavery office since 2002, also will serve as a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute in Seattle. His last day at the department will be Dec. 15.

Miller, 68, said he considers his job both unusual and important, noting that the United States and Sweden are the only two nations with diplomatic offices aimed specifically at human trafficking, a modern-day slave trade in prostitutes, child sex workers and forced laborers.

"I've interpreted the mission as nurturing and promoting the United States in the lead of a 21st century abolitionist movement," Miller said in an interview. "I believe that's the mission the president wants, it's what the Congress on bipartisan basis has wanted and what the (nongovernmental organizations) have wanted."

Miller, a Republican, represented the Seattle area in Congress from 1985 to 1993, serving on the House International Relations Committee. He later was chairman of the Discovery Institute before joining the State Department in 2002.

  Add comment

Name:
E-Mail:
Comment:
Enter code:

  Comments