Speeches, Remarks & Statements in 2009

 

Combatting International Slavery Requires Concerted International Effort

Op-ed by Ambassador Philip T. Reeker

June 20, 2009

 

“Viola, a young Albanian, was 13 when she started dating 21-year-old Dilin, who proposed to marry her. They moved to Italy where Dilin said he had cousins who could get him a job. Arriving in Italy, Viola's life changed forever. Dilin locked her in a hotel room and left her, never to be seen again. A group of men entered and began to beat Viola. Then, each raped her. The leader informed Viola that Dilin had sold her and that she had to obey him or she would be killed. For seven days Viola was beaten and repeatedly raped. Viola was sold a second time to someone who beat her head so badly she was unable to see for two days. She was told if she didn't work as a prostitute, her mother and sister in Albania would be raped and killed. Viola was forced to submit to prostitution until police raided the brothel in which she was held. She was deported to Albania.”

 

This is only one of millions of examples of the horrid crime of trafficking in persons, a modern-day form of slavery.  This week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released the ninth annual Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report.  This 175-country report is the most comprehensive worldwide report on the efforts of governments to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons.  Its findings are intended to raise global awareness and spur countries to take effective actions to counter trafficking in persons.  The assessment includes narratives on 173 countries--including the United States-- determined to have victims of severe forms of human trafficking, and two countries designated as special cases.  The report also includes tier rankings for the countries, based on a country’s efforts to meet the minimum standards set forth in the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (commonly known as the “Palermo Protocol”) the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act.  The full text of the Report and photos of human trafficking themes are available on the State Department's Web site, http://www.state.gov/g/tip.

 

The State Department’s 2009 TIP Report estimates at least 12.3 million people are victims of human trafficking around the world based on research conducted by the International Labor Organization.  This includes trafficking within a country's borders and across borders.  Labor forms of trafficking are the most prevalent, and 56 percent of all victims are female.  Human trafficking victims can be subjected to labor exploitation or sexual exploitation, or both.

 

The crime of human trafficking adversely affects us all, including the United States.  It deprives people of their most basic human rights and freedoms; it poses a public health risk; and it is a major source of illicit revenue for organized crime.  It is a problem that cannot be ignored by any of us in the world community. To that end, we are proud to partner with international organizations, NGOs and other governments, including the Republic of Macedonia, to fight human trafficking. 

 

In 2008, the U.S. Government spent approximately $76 million to fund 140 projects in about 70 countries to support foreign government and NGO efforts to combat human trafficking.  Since 2001, the USG has funded more than $604 million for anti-TIP projects around the world.  Moreover, U.S. Government efforts to promote the rule of law and economic reforms in many countries help reduce the conditions which facilitate trafficking.

 

For the second straight year, Macedonia has received a tier one ranking in the Trafficking in Persons Report.  A tier one ranking is the highest ranking a country can receive and indicates that Macedonia fully complies with the minimum standards for combating trafficking in persons as set forth in the Palermo Protocol and outlined in United States’ Trafficking Victims and Protection Act.  I commend Macedonia for this achievement and applaud our friends here for their continued determination to fight trafficking in persons domestically and regionally. 

 

I also urge that Macedonia sustain and strengthen its efforts to prevent and punish this horrific crime.  As countries elevate their efforts to eliminate human trafficking within their borders, the criminal groups involved often change their methods in response.  They dig in deeper and find new, and sometimes more severe methods to hide their victims from the public’s view.  While Macedonia has made notable efforts to fight against human trafficking, I encourage the government to continue to strengthen its capacities to investigate and root out these criminal groups,  prosecute crimes to the fullest extent of the law, and make it as difficult as possible to make money through the exploitation of other human beings.  Additionally, Macedonia can do more to ensure that the victims are treated with the dignity, respect and compassion to which everyone is entitled.  The United States stands firmly with Macedonia in this fight, and we will continue to support and assist in any way we can.  This is a global problem which requires a concerted international effort.