Alison Siskin
Specialist in Immigration Policy
Liana Sun Wyler
Analyst in International Crime and Narcotics
Trafficking in persons (TIP) for the purposes of exploitation is believed to be one of the most prolific areas of international criminal activity and is of significant concern to the United States and the international community. According to Department of State estimates, roughly 800,000 people are trafficked across borders each year. If trafficking within countries is included in the total world figures, official U.S. estimates indicate that some 2 to 4 million people are trafficked annually. As many as 17,500 people are believed to be trafficked into the United States each year and some have estimated that 100,000 U.S. citizen (USC) children are victims of trafficking within the United States..
Since enactment of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA, P.L. 106-386), the Administration and Congress have aimed to address TIP by authorizing new programs and reauthorizing existing ones, appropriating funds, creating new criminal laws, and conducting oversight on the effectiveness and implications of U.S. anti-TIP policy. Most recently, the TVPA was reauthorized through FY2011 in the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-457). Obligations for global and domestic anti- TIP programs, not including operations and law enforcement investigations, totaled approximately $103.5 million in FY2009.
Activity on combating TIP may continue into the 112th Congress, particularly related to efforts to reauthorize the TVPA. Ongoing international policy issues include how to measure the effectiveness of the U.S. and international responses to TIP, including the State Department’s annual TIP rankings and the use of unilateral sanctions; and how to prevent known sex offenders from engaging in child sex tourism. Domestic issues that may arise include whether there is equal treatment of all victims—both foreign nationals and U.S. citizens, as well as victims of labor and sex trafficking; and whether current law and services are adequate to deal with the emerging issue of domestic minor sex trafficking (i.e., the prostitution of children in the United States). Other issues are whether to include all forms of prostitution (i.e., children and adults) in the definition of TIP, and whether sufficient efforts are applied to addressing all forms of TIP, including not only sexual exploitation, but also forced labor and child soldiers.
On June 14, 2010, the State Department issued its 10th annual, congressionally mandated report on human trafficking. In addition to outlining major trends and ongoing challenges in combating TIP, the report provides a country-by-country analysis and ranking, based on what progress foreign countries have made in their efforts to prosecute traffickers, protect victims, and prevent TIP. For the first time, the United States was included as one of the ranked countries. The report categorizes countries into four tiers according to the government’s efforts to combat trafficking. Those countries that do not cooperate in the fight against trafficking (Tier 3) may be subject to U.S. foreign assistance sanctions. On September 13, 2010, President Barack Obama determined that two Tier 3 countries will be sanctioned for FY2011 without exemption (Eritrea and North Korea). In addition, he determined that four Tier 3 countries will be partially sanctioned (Burma, Cuba, Iran, and Zimbabwe).
The 2010 TIP report also included for the first time, a list of six countries that recruit, use, or harbor child soldiers. Inclusion on this list subjects these countries to possible U.S. assistance sanctions.
Date of Report: December 23, 2010
Number of Pages: 62
Order Number: RL34317
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
Specialist in Immigration Policy
Liana Sun Wyler
Analyst in International Crime and Narcotics
Trafficking in persons (TIP) for the purposes of exploitation is believed to be one of the most prolific areas of international criminal activity and is of significant concern to the United States and the international community. According to Department of State estimates, roughly 800,000 people are trafficked across borders each year. If trafficking within countries is included in the total world figures, official U.S. estimates indicate that some 2 to 4 million people are trafficked annually. As many as 17,500 people are believed to be trafficked into the United States each year and some have estimated that 100,000 U.S. citizen (USC) children are victims of trafficking within the United States..
Since enactment of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA, P.L. 106-386), the Administration and Congress have aimed to address TIP by authorizing new programs and reauthorizing existing ones, appropriating funds, creating new criminal laws, and conducting oversight on the effectiveness and implications of U.S. anti-TIP policy. Most recently, the TVPA was reauthorized through FY2011 in the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-457). Obligations for global and domestic anti- TIP programs, not including operations and law enforcement investigations, totaled approximately $103.5 million in FY2009.
Activity on combating TIP may continue into the 112th Congress, particularly related to efforts to reauthorize the TVPA. Ongoing international policy issues include how to measure the effectiveness of the U.S. and international responses to TIP, including the State Department’s annual TIP rankings and the use of unilateral sanctions; and how to prevent known sex offenders from engaging in child sex tourism. Domestic issues that may arise include whether there is equal treatment of all victims—both foreign nationals and U.S. citizens, as well as victims of labor and sex trafficking; and whether current law and services are adequate to deal with the emerging issue of domestic minor sex trafficking (i.e., the prostitution of children in the United States). Other issues are whether to include all forms of prostitution (i.e., children and adults) in the definition of TIP, and whether sufficient efforts are applied to addressing all forms of TIP, including not only sexual exploitation, but also forced labor and child soldiers.
On June 14, 2010, the State Department issued its 10th annual, congressionally mandated report on human trafficking. In addition to outlining major trends and ongoing challenges in combating TIP, the report provides a country-by-country analysis and ranking, based on what progress foreign countries have made in their efforts to prosecute traffickers, protect victims, and prevent TIP. For the first time, the United States was included as one of the ranked countries. The report categorizes countries into four tiers according to the government’s efforts to combat trafficking. Those countries that do not cooperate in the fight against trafficking (Tier 3) may be subject to U.S. foreign assistance sanctions. On September 13, 2010, President Barack Obama determined that two Tier 3 countries will be sanctioned for FY2011 without exemption (Eritrea and North Korea). In addition, he determined that four Tier 3 countries will be partially sanctioned (Burma, Cuba, Iran, and Zimbabwe).
The 2010 TIP report also included for the first time, a list of six countries that recruit, use, or harbor child soldiers. Inclusion on this list subjects these countries to possible U.S. assistance sanctions.
Date of Report: December 23, 2010
Number of Pages: 62
Order Number: RL34317
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
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