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Thank
you,  Secretary
Powell,
for your inspiring introduction of this second annual Trafficking
in Persons Report.
 I
am proud to say that this is the largest annual report of its kind created by
any single government worldwide. To compile this document, which reports on 89
countries, information was gathered from 186 US embassies and consulates, among
other sources, including NGOs and media reports.
The
Report is many things. It's a sober reminder of the reality of this modern-day
form of slavery. It is a tool for our engagement with other countries, a
starting point for dialogue. It's a platform for advocates. It's a coordination
opportunity for regional, anti-trafficking efforts among governments. Hopefully,
and most importantly, it's a freedom-promoting mechanism for individual victims
of enslavement everywhere.
Ultimately,
the Report should be employed as a practical tool for producing anti-trafficking
strategies globally. And I invite NGOs, think tanks, Congress, and other experts
to embrace this opportunity.
 Trafficking
in persons is a leading international crime and human rights abuse. As the
Secretary noted, the global magnitude is staggering. Annual estimates range from
700,000 to 4 million people bought, sold, transported and held in slavery-like
conditions for sex and labor exploitation. The nature of this crime --
underground, often under-acknowledged -- contributes to the inability to pin
down the number of people who are victimized by traffickers each year. The scope
of this hideous exploitation is wide and varied, but typically involves victims
entrapped into commercial, sexual exploitation such as prostitution and
pornography, and labor exploitation such as sweatshops, construction sites and
agriculture. Additional forms of forced labor and abuse include domestic
servitude, forced marriages, and camel jockeys, to name just a few.
The
Report is produced by the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons,
which was established at the Department of State last October, pursuant to
comprehensive legislation adopted by the Congress. In addition to reporting
duties, the Office assists in the coordination of the US Government's
anti-trafficking efforts, both domestically and abroad, guided by the vision of
eradicating trafficking worldwide.
The
Report is produced by the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons,
which was established at the Department of State last October, pursuant to
comprehensive legislation adopted by the Congress. In addition to reporting
duties, the Office assists in the coordination of the US Government's
anti-trafficking efforts, both domestically and abroad, guided by the vision of
eradicating trafficking worldwide.
The
Report includes a three-tiered country list, which evaluates governmental
efforts to combat trafficking on the basis of minimum standards described in the
law, followed by individual country narratives. This year, 89 countries are
listed as follows: 18 countries in Tier 1, 52 countries on Tier 2, and 19
countries in Tier 3. The last, or third, tier identifies countries that neither
fully comply with the minimum standards, nor are making significant efforts to
do so.
Since
the Report last year, many countries improved their anti-trafficking efforts, 14
of them so much that they are placed in a more favorable tier from last year.
Furthermore, because of changed circumstances or new information, two countries
that were on the 2001 Report are not included on this year's Report.
The
Report is working. Already we are seeing success stories, as mentioned by the
Secretary. The Republic of Korea, as well as Romania and Israel, have
aggressively pursued anti-trafficking initiatives since the first report was
issued last year, extensively coordinating with us on practical measures and
policy strategies.
Acknowledging
the huge task before us, this is a good beginning for concerted anti-trafficking
efforts internationally. In closing, the degrading, insidious practice of
slavery is found worldwide. It is found in rich countries and in poor countries,
in sending countries and destination countries. It is found in democracies such
as the United States, into which at least 50,000 people are trafficked annually.
It is found in conflict-ridden countries and among displaced, vulnerable
populations.
As
we enter the 21st century, trafficking must be challenged worldwide. Trafficking
must end. This Report is intended to empower everyone fighting to stop slavery
in the 21st century.
Revista INTER-FORUM is affiliated with
(ICCAP) Any reproduction in part or whole is strictly forbidden without the authors written authorization
Top 
June
10, 2002
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