Friday, June 06, 2008

State Department's 2008 Trafficking In Persons Report Released

On June 4th, the U.S. Department of State released its annual Trafficking in Persons Report.

Secretary Rice remarked on the report with the following:

"The 2008 report covers more countries than ever -- 170 total. It is the most comprehensive global compendium of human trafficking trends and efforts by foreign governments to eliminate this crime... And as required by Congress, the Trafficking in Persons Report examines both labor slavery and sex trafficking.

For the first time, in this year’s report, we closely examined prosecution data and made a disturbing discovery: Although more countries are addressing sex trafficking through prosecution and convictions, the petty tyrants who exploit their laborers rarely receive serious punishment. We see this as a serious shortcoming, and as we move our efforts forward, we and our allies must remember that a robust law enforcement response is essential.


This report is a key tool in our efforts to abolish human trafficking -- by raising awareness, offering clear recommendations to combat these crimes, and offering advice and aid from the United States."

For those that are unfamiliar with the TIP Report, it is a global analysis of anti-trafficking efforts put forth (or not put forth) by governments around the world. According to the Introduction,

"It is intended to raise global awareness, to highlight efforts of the international community, and to encourage foreign governments to take effective actions to counter all forms of trafficking in persons...

In assessing foreign governments’ efforts, the TIP Report highlights the “three P’s”—prosecution, protection, and prevention. But a victim-centered approach to traffi cking requires us also to address the “three R’s”—rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration—and to encourage learning and sharing of best practices in these areas."


Governments are then categorized into four tiers- Tier One (full compliance with international standards), Tier 2 (meets minimum requirements and improving), Tier 2 Watchlist (countries that should receive special scrutiny), and Tier 3 (little to no compliance, and no effort to improve). As of right now, countries placed on Tier 3 can be considered for sanctions in light of the lack of effort to combat human trafficking. If the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2007 passes, then countries placed on the Tier 2 Watchlist may also be considered for sanctions.

Within days after the release of the report, media outlets across the world released articles on the placement of various countries on the list, as well as analysis of the information and implications of tier placement and review:

The Jerusalem Post
Israel's human-trafficking record little improved - US
Israel has failed to adequately punish the perpetrators of international human trafficking and must significantly increase its law enforcement and victim protection services if it is to improve its status in the US State Department's annual Trafficking in Person's Report, according to the document's 2008 version, which was released on Wednesday.

The Phnom Penh Post
US upgrades Cambodia's anti-human trafficking rating
The US government has upgraded Cambodia's anti-human trafficking rating for the first time since 2006, saying that the Kingdom has made a significant effort to combat people smuggling.

The country has been placed this year in Tier 2, the middle category in the US State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons report, putting it alongside countries like Chile, Angola and El Salvador, which are among the 170 countries assessed.

Since 2006 Cambodia has languished on the Tier 2 Watch List after being relegated to the lowest category, Tier 3, in 2005.

International Herald Tribune
US criticizes key Arab allies for not doing enough to combat human trafficking
The Bush administration criticized some of its closest Arab allies on Wednesday for not doing enough to combat human trafficking.

The State Department's annual "Trafficking in Persons Report," released Wednesday, raises concern about seven allied Arab states, including key Middle East peace partners Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Daily Nation Online, Kenya
We all must fight modern slavery
Kenya remains source, destination and transit country for trafficking victims, but its ranking in the report improved from Tier 2 Watch List to Tier 2 in recognition of its increasing efforts to combat these crimes.

However, Kenya still has no specific, comprehensive law against TIP, which has made it difficult for the justice system to investigate and prosecute traffickers and to assist victims.

TVNZ, New Zealand
NZ a sex trafficking destination
The US State Department's Human Traffic Report for 2008 has named New Zealand as a destination country for women being trafficked for the sex trade.

It says women from Malaysia, Hong Kong, China and other countries are being exploited in the sex industry in NZ.


Economic Times, India
India on US human trafficking watch list for fifth year
The US has placed India on its second worst category of human trafficking watch list for the fifth year in a row for allegedly failing to show evidence of increasing efforts to combat the problem.

"India is a source, destination, and transit country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labour and commercial sexual exploitation," an annual US State Department report released Wednesday said, placing New Delhi on the Tier-2 Watch List.

"The government of India does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. However, it is making significant efforts to do so."

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
U.S.: Human-Trafficking Report Finds Key Criminals Often Go Unpunished
Virtually all of the nations of Eastern, Central, and Southeastern Europe are in Tier 2, while Russia and Tajikistan are on the so-called "watch list" of Tier-2 countries because they could slip to Tier 3. Uzbekistan is among four countries that have moved up. It used to be designated as a Tier-3 country, and now is on the Tier-2 "watch list." Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are in Tier 2, except for Turkmenistan, which is listed as a "special case" because of the lack of information from the country.

CBC, Canada
Canada a destination for sex tourists, U.S. report says
Needs to crack down on human traffickers

Canada must do more to arrest and convict human traffickers who have helped make the country a "sex tourism" destination for American tourists, a U.S. government report released Wednesday suggests...

The claim that Canada is a destination for sex tourists is based on reports from non-governmental organizations, the report said...

Canada is a source, transit and destination country for trafficked people, the report said, but it did not provide specific numbers. It said victims arrive in Canada from Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam, South Korea, Russia and Ukraine.

Canadian girls and women, many of them aboriginal, are also trafficked within the country to work in sex-for-money operations, the report said.

Brazzil Magazine
Up to Half a Million Kids Exploited for Prostitution in Brazil
Brazil is among the 50 nations that are part of the second tier of nations where there is human trafficking, according to the just-released US State Department's 8th Annual Trafficking in Persons Report.

The study recognizes, however, that Brazil is taking substantial steps to rescue victims of slave labor in the Amazon and other Brazilian regions.

Approximately half of the nearly 6,000 men freed from slave labor in 2007 were found exploited on plantations growing sugar cane for the production of ethanol, a growing trend. A large number of Brazilian women and girls are trafficked for sexual exploitation to destinations in South America, the Caribbean, Western Europe, Japan, the United States, and the Middle East.

The National, UAE
UAE edges ahead in battle against human trafficking
The UAE has risen up the ranks of the US State Department’s assessment of global human trafficking thanks to “impressive” efforts to combat the problem.However, the department’s annual report, released yesterday, faulted the country for failing to “aggressively prosecute or punish” labour trafficking.

FijiVillage
Fiji Source For Child Trafficking
Fiji is a source country for children trafficked for the purpose of commercial exploitation and a destination country for a smaller number of women from China and India trafficked for the purpose of forced labour and commercial sexual exploitation.A US State Department report on "Trafficking in Persons Report" stated that Fiji boys and girls are victims of commercial sexual exploitation by Fiji citizens, foreign tourists, and sailors on foreign fishing vessels.

Jamaica Gleaner
Law enforcers urged to be on the lookout for human trafficking
Jamaica passed the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Suppression and Punishment) Act in 2007, which prohibits all forms of trafficking in persons and related offences such as withholding a victim's passport or receiving financial benefits from trafficking crimes.

According to the latest United States State Department Trafficking in Persons Report, released Wed-nesday, Jamaica has maintained a Tier-2 rating.

All Africa.com
Namibia: Concerns About Child Slavery
NAMIBIA may be a source and destination country for child trafficking but the magnitude is not known, according to a US State Department report released on Wednesday.

The annual "Trafficking in Persons" report, which tracks forced labour and the sex trade, covered Namibia as a "special case" for the first time and found that the largest percentage of trafficking victims were children engaged in prostitution.

Namibia, Somalia, the Solomon Islands, and Tunisia, were among countries suspected of having trafficking problems but were not ranked because of lack of sufficient information.

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous8:16 AM

    we need to stop this evil killer of rights human trafficing.
    in citys wide cleaer ofr reduce loaned money payments,make street work illegal,check all passports to avoid illgegal entery,crimilise men who force woman into these acts
    and help these presous souls achieve greatness.

    ReplyDelete