TRAFFICKING IN persons is modern-day slavery, involving victims who are forced, defrauded or coerced into labour or sexual exploitation. Annually, about 600,000 to 800,000 people, mostly women and children, are trafficked within their own countries.
People are snared into trafficking by many means. In some cases, physical force is used. In other cases, false promises are made regarding job opportunities or marriages in foreign countries to entrap victims.
What impact does human trafficking have on the world?
Human trafficking is a multi-dimensional threat. It deprives people of their human rights and freedoms, it is a global health risk, and it fuels the growth of organised crime.
Human trafficking has a devastating impact on individual victims, who often suffer physical and emotional abuse, rape, threats against self and family, passport theft, and even death.
What do the tiers of the Trafficking in Persons Report mean?
TIER 1: Countries that fully comply with the act's minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking
TIER 2: Countries that do not fully comply with the minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves in compliance.
TIER TWO WATCH LIST: Countries on Tier 2 requiring special scrutiny because of a high or significantly increasing number of victims and failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons.
TIER THREE: Countries that neither satisfy the minimum standards nor demonstrate a significant effort to come into compliance. Countries in this tier are subject to potential non-humanitarian and non-trade sanctions.
