WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Demi and Ashton Foundation (DNA) and NetHope Inc. announced the launch of the Stop Human Trafficking App Challenge, a contest to develop the most effective mobile technology application to combat trafficking in persons in Russia. Leveraging the culture of innovation thriving in Russia and broadly across the region, the contest aims to raise awareness of trafficking in Russia and help civil society organizations provide services to survivors.

Contestants from Russia, Eastern Europe, and the Commonwealth of Independent States, including Diaspora communities, can submit entries through August 8, 2011. Once the contest closes, stakeholders – including Russian anti-trafficking organizations, international non-governmental organizations, technology companies and the public – will be invited to judge submissions based on their usefulness in preventing trafficking, raising awareness, or providing services to survivors; innovativeness; ease of use; and potential for large-scale application. The ultimate goal of this program is to find an effective application that can be scaled up and replicated across Eastern Europe and other geographic regions in the future.

To enter the contest or for further details, please go to: www.nethope.org/appchallenge

For more information about USAID, visit www.usaid.gov. 
For more information about DNA, visit: http://www.demiandashton.org