Human Rights Organization Calls On Congress And The State Department To Protect The Integrity Of The Trafficking In Persons Report

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --With Secretary of State John Kerry today releasing the State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, global human rights organization International Justice Mission (IJM) continues to call upon Congress and the State Department to protect the integrity of this critical diplomatic tool in the fight against modern-day slavery.

Instituted by Congress in the 2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the TIP Report ranks 188 countries on their efforts to combat human trafficking. Countries placed on "Tier III" for failure to meet their responsibilities to respond to the crime risk losing non-humanitarian U.S. foreign aid.  Countries placed on the "Tier II Watch list" must take specific actions to address chronic infirmities in the public justice system, or risk downgrade to Tier III.  However, placement on Tier III runs the risk of complicating U.S. diplomatic relations, especially when other geopolitical concerns take precedence and countries that deserve placement on Tier III may not receive it. In order to address the concern, anti-slavery advocates have championed legislation that would upgrade the status of the TIP Office to a State Department bureau, thereby increasing the office's authority and ability to maintain honest reporting.

"While the TIP report is an effective diplomatic tool in the fight against modern-day slavery, more can be done to protect slaves and trafficking victims worldwide," said Holly Burkhalter, Vice President of Government Relations and Advocacy at human rights agency International Justice Mission. "Elevating the TIP Office to a full-fledged State Department Bureau not only strengthens the integrity of this critical tool, but it elevates the interests of these most vulnerable people in the world. Congress can make this happen at no additional cost to taxpayers by passing the bi-partisan Human Trafficking Prioritization Act without delay." 

IJM, which has offices in nearly 20 communities around the globe, highlighted the importance of the TIP Report in jump-starting progress in the Philippines. The country's Tier II Watch status in 2010 prompted significant reforms by the Aquino government in the last several years, including specialized anti-trafficking law enforcement units, prosecutors who work with police to improve evidence collection, and courts that prioritize human trafficking cases. This year's Report, which placed the Philippines on Tier II, commended the Philippines government for 31 trafficking convictions, including its first two convictions in Pampanga.  IJM's Pampanga Field Office collaborates with a local anti-trafficking police unit to identify and rescue minor victims of sex trafficking and to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators.

Said Burkhalter, "The Philippines government deserves high praise for investing in specialized police units that have the knowledge, will, and means to crack down on human trafficking. This success story can serve as a model for other countries grappling with the crime."

With the Obama Administration considering a U.S. presence in the Philippines, anti-trafficking advocates in the Philippines have raised concerns about strengthening protections against human trafficking.  In the 1980s, enormous red light districts grew up around U.S. air and naval bases in the Philippines, and the sex industry remains today, despite the bases' closures in 1992.

"While bolstering Philippines' external security and defenses are critical," said Sam Inocencio, IJM's Office Director in Manila, "it is equally vital that its internal security for our vulnerable women and children continue to be strengthened to ensure and sustain a democratic state where all Filipinos enjoy the fruits of freedom equally."

The 2014 TIP Report also documented that Cambodia remains on the Tier II Watch List for a second year in a row, meaning that without significant improvements this coming year, it would risk losing non-humanitarian U.S. foreign aid. IJM has worked closely with Cambodian police for the past decade to end the exploitation of very young minors in sexual establishments, but older minors are still vulnerable.   The TIP Report noted that Cambodian anti-trafficking police units do not have clear legal authority to conduct undercover investigations.  Strengthening that capacity is vitally needed to sustain the gains of the past decade and to protect those minors still at risk.  

About International Justice Mission
International Justice Mission is a global organization that protects the poor from violence throughout the developing world. IJM partners with local authorities to rescue victims of violence, bring criminals to justice, restore survivors, and strengthen justice systems. The largest non-profit organization of its kind, IJM combats slavery, sex trafficking, property grabbing, police abuse of power and sexual violence, working in nearly 20 communities throughout South and Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America. www.IJM.org

SOURCE International Justice Mission