Washington has accused Russia and Thailand of failing to tackle human trafficking, while praising progress in Malaysia and Cuba.In a report on trafficking decried as “modern slavery”, Venezuela, Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, North Korea and Zimbabwe joined Russia and Thailand at the bottom of an annual ranking compiled by the State Department and announced by Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday.
“Tier 3” is the category whose governments respect international norms and laws on trafficking the least and are making no “significant efforts” to change this.
The promotion of Malaysia and Cuba to Tier 2, the Watch List, drew accusations that the US has politicised the rankings.
Malaysia is among Pacific Rim nations currently negotiating a trade accord with Washington, while Cuba and the US re-established diplomatic ties last week after decades of hostility.
Cuba, after 12 years at Tier 3, has now been upgraded to the Watch List for 2015, with the report citing “sustained law enforcement efforts” in prosecuting and convicting sex traffickers.
Asked if Malaysia’s role in the trade talks was a factor, state human rights spokeswoman Sarah Sewall insisted: “No, no, no.”
The report said Kuala Lumpur had made “significant efforts” in fighting trafficking. Sewall said the May discovery of mass graves believed to be used by Malaysian people-smugglers near the Thai border was a “core concern” but it came after the report’s review period ended in March.
Malaysia rights group Tenaganita called the report “a terrifying hypocrisy and a further crippling of global efforts to end slavery”.
It said Malaysia has done little to address the scourge or prosecute traffickers and corrupt officials, and that abuse and exploitation of victims remained rife. “The US is now prepared to barter the freedom, dignity and lives of victims of human trafficking for its own economic gain,” it said.
Several US lawmakers expressed concern over the report. “They have elevated politics over the most basic principles of human rights,” said Senate Democrat Robert Menendez, alleging that the leniency towards Malaysia and Cuba was “a stamp of approval for countries who have failed to take the basic actions”.
The US-based Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking said Obama’s administration “unfairly” upgraded Malaysia by putting trade over human rights.
Russia, where statistics show an estimated five million to 12 million foreign workers, has languished in Tier 3 since 2013.
“Many of these migrant workers experienced exploitative labour conditions characteristic of trafficking cases, such as withholding of identity documents, non-payment for services rendered, physical abuse or extremely poor living conditions,” the US report stated, adding Russia lacked a national plan and funds for prevention, and prosecutions remained far too low.
US ally Thailand slipped from Tier 2 Watch List from 2010 to 2013, to Tier 3 for the past two years.
Thailand’s trafficking problem centres on its extensive sex trade, but there is also reported abuse in commercial fishing. “Some Thai officials are complicit in trafficking crimes and corruption continues to undermine anti-trafficking efforts,” the report said.
Thailand’s foreign ministry rejected the ranking, claiming it “did not accurately reflect the significant efforts” made by the current junta to address trafficking.
Malaysia’s Home Ministry said the country’s upgrade recognised its “commitment and initiative” in fighting trafficking.
China rose a notch in 2014 to Tier 2 and remained there this year. Most Western countries, as well as Israel, Taiwan and Armenia, are at Tier 1.
According to the International Labour Organisation, trafficking in persons represents a $150-billion-a-year industry, including $99-billion for the sex industry alone.
Washington estimates some 20 million victims. “Trafficking in persons is an insult to human dignity and an assault on freedom,” Kerry’s introduction says as he called for a comprehensive “fight against modern slavery” .
US hails some for ‘slaving’ progress
“Tier 3” is the category whose governments respect international norms and laws on trafficking the least and are making no “significant efforts” to change this.
The promotion of Malaysia and Cuba to Tier 2, the Watch List, drew accusations that the US has politicised the rankings.
Malaysia is among Pacific Rim nations currently negotiating a trade accord with Washington, while Cuba and the US re-established diplomatic ties last week after decades of hostility.
Cuba, after 12 years at Tier 3, has now been upgraded to the Watch List for 2015, with the report citing “sustained law enforcement efforts” in prosecuting and convicting sex traffickers.
Asked if Malaysia’s role in the trade talks was a factor, state human rights spokeswoman Sarah Sewall insisted: “No, no, no.”
The report said Kuala Lumpur had made “significant efforts” in fighting trafficking. Sewall said the May discovery of mass graves believed to be used by Malaysian people-smugglers near the Thai border was a “core concern” but it came after the report’s review period ended in March.
Malaysia rights group Tenaganita called the report “a terrifying hypocrisy and a further crippling of global efforts to end slavery”.
It said Malaysia has done little to address the scourge or prosecute traffickers and corrupt officials, and that abuse and exploitation of victims remained rife. “The US is now prepared to barter the freedom, dignity and lives of victims of human trafficking for its own economic gain,” it said.
Several US lawmakers expressed concern over the report. “They have elevated politics over the most basic principles of human rights,” said Senate Democrat Robert Menendez, alleging that the leniency towards Malaysia and Cuba was “a stamp of approval for countries who have failed to take the basic actions”.
The US-based Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking said Obama’s administration “unfairly” upgraded Malaysia by putting trade over human rights.
Russia, where statistics show an estimated five million to 12 million foreign workers, has languished in Tier 3 since 2013.
“Many of these migrant workers experienced exploitative labour conditions characteristic of trafficking cases, such as withholding of identity documents, non-payment for services rendered, physical abuse or extremely poor living conditions,” the US report stated, adding Russia lacked a national plan and funds for prevention, and prosecutions remained far too low.
US ally Thailand slipped from Tier 2 Watch List from 2010 to 2013, to Tier 3 for the past two years.
Thailand’s trafficking problem centres on its extensive sex trade, but there is also reported abuse in commercial fishing. “Some Thai officials are complicit in trafficking crimes and corruption continues to undermine anti-trafficking efforts,” the report said.
Thailand’s foreign ministry rejected the ranking, claiming it “did not accurately reflect the significant efforts” made by the current junta to address trafficking.
Malaysia’s Home Ministry said the country’s upgrade recognised its “commitment and initiative” in fighting trafficking.
China rose a notch in 2014 to Tier 2 and remained there this year. Most Western countries, as well as Israel, Taiwan and Armenia, are at Tier 1.
According to the International Labour Organisation, trafficking in persons represents a $150-billion-a-year industry, including $99-billion for the sex industry alone.
Washington estimates some 20 million victims. “Trafficking in persons is an insult to human dignity and an assault on freedom,” Kerry’s introduction says as he called for a comprehensive “fight against modern slavery” .
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