Human Trafficking Report Slams Russia & China; Latin America Divided
The U.S.’s southern neighbor, Mexico, was ranked a “tier two” country – meaning that while the country while the country is “a large source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor…however, [the government of Mexico] is making significant efforts to do so.
Earlier this year, Mexican authorities approved a new national anti-trafficking law and increased convictions of trafficking offenders at the state level. Some states have strengthened their anti-trafficking law enforcement capacity, and the government maintained varied training efforts at the national and local level, the report stated.
President Obama can block various types of aid, such as arms financing, grants for cultural and educational exchange programs and could withdraw U.S. support for loans from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
That appears unlikely in the cases of China, Russia and Uzbekistan, which have strategic importance for Washington.
“Modern-day slavery affects every country in the world, including the United States and every government is responsible for dealing with it and no government is yet doing enough,” Secretary of State John Kerry said at the launch of the report, which he conceded “pulls no punches.”
“This report is tough because this is a tough issue and it demands serious attention and that’s precisely what we intend to provide.”
Activists commended Kerry for being willing to downgrade powerful nations.
“Frankly, we expected a number of these countries to be upgraded for geopolitical reasons,” said David Abramowitz, director of the U.S.-based Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking. “The Trafficking in Persons report is only effective when it’s honest.”
John Sifton of Human Rights Watch said it remains to be seen whether the White House will execute sanctions. He urged the administration to do so unless the governments in question commit to fight trafficking.
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