The United States in the Human Trafficking Report

After signing the Human Trafficking Protocol in 2000, the US State Department has monitored levels of compliance with the protocol among the member states. Human trafficking is now an international crime according to the United Nations. For the first time this year the State Department audited the US and included the data on the list.

States are graded on their compliance with the human trafficking protocol by a tier system. Tier 1 states recognize trafficking as illegal and enforce laws to maintain compliance with the protocol and the torture victim protection act standards. Tier 1 countries included most in western Europe as well as others like South Korea. Tier 2 countries have not yet met minimum standards but have made significant steps to do so. Some Tier 2 countries in the last report were China, Mexico, and Russia. Tier 3 countries have not attempted to meet any standards or enforce any modern human slavery laws. The number of tier 3 countries is relatively small compared to the other two, but some notable nations were Saudi Arabia, Cuba and Myanmar.

For the first time, the State Department ranked itself, and the US received a Tier 1 rating. While some question the validity of the US ranking itself, it is an important step to get the information out into the open. All countries have problems with human trafficking, and the US is no different. Because of the US's economy, it is a prime destination area for human traffickers. These criminals can pick up people in other countries, transport them here and sell their labor or sex services for much less than American citizens. The source countries are often ones that are poor or have suffered some sort of disaster. The people there have little hope and are willing to believe the smuggler's wild claims for a chance at a new life.

Some countries also serve as transit countries, as the human smugglers take their cargo from the source country to the destination country. This may be a stopover as the smugglers find a safe route into the destination country. Of course some countries do not even work to stop this problem.

One major problem with human trafficking is it is not all that obvious. Although run by underground criminal elements, businesses and people contribute to human trafficking when they turn a blind eye or use the services provided by enslaved people. Just like how South African apartheid was eventually destroyed by international economic pressure. Refusing to be involved with businesses that may smuggle and enslave humans is a great way to stop trafficking.