ASHLEY JUDD has joined in the fight against human trafficking, the "modern form of slavery" which has millions of estimated victims and annual profits of $32 billion, according to the United Nations.

Judd was at U.N. headquarters in New York Tuesday for a press conference on the matter. She first came across the issue during her travels as a Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS and "Five Alive." When asked why she, an American actress, would have something to contribute, Judd replied, "How dare I not? I believe the narratives of the unloved, the dispossessed, the hidden and the silenced are keys to peace ...Political will must accelerate.  Funding for proven programmes must increase.  And 'normal' citizens must be sensitized to care and to act."

For more information, visit the United Nations website.