New report ranks countries with violations in sex trafficking and trafficking of child soldiers.

June 20, 2007

World Vision commends the U.S. State Department for its strategic, ongoing efforts to identify and combat human trafficking worldwide through the recent release of the seventh annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP).

Vital Anti-Trafficking Tool

The U.S. government employs TIP Report as a tool to:

• Develop policies that fight human trafficking
• Highlight progress on the issue
• Encourage foreign governments to take effective action

This year's report also recognizes the 200th anniversary of the British Parliament’s abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. Yet, slavery continues in today's world. World Vision is among those working around the globe to stop the trade in human lives.

Political Will Essential

In order to hold all nations accountable for human trafficking violations, however, the TIP Report must be matched by sufficient political will.

"Otherwise, the TIP Report risks becoming a mere footnote in the fight to end modern-day slavery," says Joseph Mettimano, World Vision’s director of public policy and advocacy.

What Is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is the unwilling transport of human beings across borders. It takes many forms, including:

• Commercial sexual exploitation
• Child soldiering
• Debt bondage
• Servitude on the high seas
• Involuntary domestic labor
• Brokered marriages

Each year, as many as 800,000 people are transported from one country to another to be used in the commercial sex trade, forced labor or domestic service. Eight out of 10 of those are women and girls. An estimated 2 million children are enslaved in the global sex trade.

Countries Using Child Soldier Noted

The report’s tier rankings include countries that have violations involving both sex trafficking and trafficking of child soldiers. The recently introduced Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2007 is intended to curb use of child soldiers, in concert with State Department reporting on violations. U.S. lawmakers must pass this legislation to prohibit taxpayer dollars from aiding militaries that victimize children by using them as soldiers and sex slaves.

"Passing the Child Soldiers Prevention Act is one such step the U.S. government must implement as they hold other nations accountable for their efforts to address all forms of modern day slavery," says Mettimano.

World Vision’s Response

World Vision has responded to the sex trafficking problem through protecting the vulnerable by offering:

• Education
• Aftercare
• Alternative livelihoods

One such program is a Trauma Recovery Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where hundreds of girls have recovered from their abuse. In its first nine years, the program has served 650 girls ages 8 to 18, and successfully helped to reintegrate 520 back into their families or communities, or arranged foster or small group homes for them.

World Vision also helps U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field attachés, identify Americans who abuse children in other countries and gather information that could lead to their prosecution and conviction. In addition, World Vision collaborates with destination-country law enforcement and government agencies dedicated to protecting children, to develop more efficient reporting and investigation procedures.