The “Trafficking in Persons” report, one of several annual assessments issued by the department on human-rights-related topics, is unusual in that it rates nations, which can ruffle diplomatic feathers.
Advertisement
The State Department issued its annual human-trafficking report on July 27, criticizing Thailand’s failure to investigate officials complicit in human trafficking.
The report’s release came just two days after Thailand indicted 72 people, including 15 state officials, over suspected links to human trafficking.
“Upgrades for Malaysia and Cuba are a clear politicization of the report, and a stamp of approval for countries who have failed to take the basic actions to merit this upgrade”, Democratic Sen.
The Thai Embassy in Washington “strongly disagreed” with its retention on tier 3, saying it didn’t reflect reality and the government’s efforts to combat human trafficking.
“This upgrade in Cuba’s status in the annual report is nothing short of appeasement and it is a disgrace unbecoming of an administration that claims to hold human rights as one of its top priorities”, Ros-Lehtinen said.
Uzbekistan, which has faced criticism by rights groups over allegations of forced labour in its cotton industry, was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List from Tier 3. An amendment to the Trade Promotion Authority Act states a fast-track deal can’t be done with a country that’s on the Tier 3 list.
“Many of these migrant workers experienced exploitative labor conditions characteristic of trafficking cases, such as withholding of identity documents, nonpayment for services rendered, physical abuse, or extremely poor living conditions”, the report stated in regards to Russian Federation.
Malaysia and Cuba were raised from the lowest level, “Tier 3”, to “Tier 2 Watchlist” status. Russia, Iran, Eritrea and Algeria are some of the countries that have been on the blacklist for years.
“By upgrading Malaysia, the U.S.is selling out victims of human trafficking”, said Melysa Sperber, the director of the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking.
Secretary of State John Kerry says the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report aims to enlighten, energize and empower activists fighting the “human trafficking industry” across every continent.
Stating that the Indian government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, it recommended New Delhi to cease the penalisation of trafficking victims, including restrictions on their travel and increase prosecutions and convictions for all forms of trafficking.
Moving Malaysia off the list of Tier 3 countries eliminates a potential roadblock to finalizing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the massive trade agreement involving 12 Pacific Rim nations, including Malaysia. She said Malaysia still has “much room for improvement”.
The move, which leaked to the press last week, is giving critics new ammunition to accuse the Obama administration of allowing politics to influence the rankings. “Our standing in the world demands the U.S.to take such a position for those being exploited around the world”. “We have to accept that we do have human trafficking problems, tackle them, and prevent them from re-occurring”, Petcharamesree said.
Sewall cited the strengthening of Malaysia’s anti-trafficking law and the increase in the number of trafficking investigations and prosecutions in the period covered by the report – which ended March 31.
Echoing the prime minister, however, the foreign ministry promised, “Thailand will continue to do its utmost to overcome the remaining challenges while also promoting security and upholding our long and distinguished tradition of adherence to humanitarianism”.
Advertisement
Thai officials have expressed hope in recent months that the country will be upgraded in this year’s report, which is scheduled for release at 9pm Thai time on Monday, because of the government’s efforts to crackdown on trafficking networks since the May 2014 coup that brought Gen. Prayuth into power.
