On September 26, the House International Relations Committee held a hearing on the global efforts to end human trafficking.
Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) applauded the effectiveness of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and the 2003 and 2005 reauthorizations, stating that the “three laws created a comprehensive framework for combating trafficking in persons abroad, as well as the trafficking of foreign nationals into the United States.” Highlighting the growing need to assist trafficking victims in the U.S., Rep. Smith said, “Just this month, it was reported that a woman from my home state of New Jersey pled guilty to being part of a smuggling ring that brought in more than 20 young women and teenagers from Honduras to work in a bar. These women were virtually imprisoned in apartments, and are alleged to have been beaten, raped, and subjected to forced abortions.” He added, “Such horrific stories make us all too aware that this modern form of slavery has silently infiltrated and poisoned the fabric not only of the United States, but of virtually every society around the world.”
Noting that “the subject of trafficking, particularly as it relates to young people, to children, to young women, to girls, is a nightmare for all of us,” Ranking Member Tom Lantos (D-CA) pointed out that “the United States is invariably in the forefront of fighting these problems which afflict humanity.” He commended the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Ricky Martin for his efforts to fight human trafficking and expressed his hope that Mr. Martin’s presence at the hearing would “inspire other celebrities to engage in a good cause.”
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) stated, “Human trafficking is an immoral business of oppression and a sickening practice. The abuse of the world’s most defenseless and vulnerable citizens for revenue and personal benefits is unconscionable. We are currently seeing examples of human trafficking in dozens of countries, with Iran, Syria and Uzbekistan by our State Dept. listed as among the worst examples,” adding, “These crimes against humanity must be taken seriously. We must work both bilaterally and through international forums to bring more attention to this sickening practice and commit to its eradication.”
Highlighting the “need to look at some of the fundamental reasons why women and girls are so vulnerable to being trafficked,” Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) stressed the importance of a comprehensive strategy that includes addressing economic and educational opportunities for women and girls, as well as prosecuting offenders. Rep. Lee said that the girls and women she met in a red light district in India said that “if they could address the issues of poverty and raising their children, they wouldn’t be where they were.” She declared, “There is no way that we should stand by and allow any slave trade to exist in 2006.”
Director of the State Department Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Ambassador John Miller stated, “This challenge exists everywhere in the world, including the United States of America.” He said that twelve countries are currently categorized as Tier 3, governments that do not fully comply with the minimum standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and are “not making significant efforts to do so.” Thirty-two governments are on this year’s Tier 2 Watch List, which means they are in danger of being reclassified as Tier 3 countries. Mr. Miller noted that some are “large, important governments,” such as Russia, India, and Mexico. He expressed his hope “to see some improvement” in those countries.
Mr. Miller said that several countries, including China and Belize, have made some progress in their efforts to combat trafficking. He noted, however, that on his last visit to China, he was not able to persuade Chinese government officials to confront the problem of North Koreans being trafficked into China. Women and girls are either trafficked into the country or are seized by gangs as they enter China; they are then sold into prostitution or marriages. He cited some positive indicators in the global fight against “this terrible scourge:” 4,700 traffickers have been convicted this year, more shelters for trafficking victims are being created, and 41 governments passed comprehensive trafficking in persons legislation last year. “I believe we’ve started to turn the corner,” Mr. Miller said.
The role of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) was detailed by Wade Horn, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) assistant secretary for Children and Families. Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the ACF is responsible for certifying “foreign persons as trafficking victims and assisting them in accessing the benefits and services needed to rebuild their lives,” he said. Dr. Horn acknowledged that the “biggest problem” is identifying the victims: although the ACF has succeeded in certifying over 1,000 trafficking victims in the past five years, an estimated 14,500 to 17,500 people are trafficked annually into the U.S. Dr. Horn summarized ACF’s public awareness efforts, which include the Rescue and Restore Victims of Human Trafficking public awareness campaign to help communities identify and assist trafficking victims, the 24/7 toll-free hotline for potential trafficking victims, and grants to support outreach to “vulnerable populations, such as the homeless and at-risk youth.” He also said that a conference on survivors of sex trafficking would be held this week to “allow survivors to share their physical, emotional, financial and legal needs and what has helped them on their road to recovery.”
Ricky Martin, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and president of the Ricky Martin Foundation, focused his testimony on child trafficking. He recounted the moment he became interested in this issue: “In 2002, when traveling in Calcutta, I met three little girls, living on the street, maybe days away from being sold into prostitution, trembling beneath plastic bags. I knew then that I had to do something about it…Today, the girls live in a shelter with 167 other girls.” He described the scope of child trafficking: “In Mexico City, more than 5,000 children are involved in prostitution, pornography, and sex tourism. In Thailand, there are about 200,000 children involved in its sex trade, and 86 percent of the patrons are local. In Africa, 200,000 boys and girls are trafficked and forced to work on plantations, mines, fishing boats, and brothels each year. In Brazil, 500,000 children are prostitutes. And in the United States 350,000 children are engaged in the sex trade, according to the University of Pennsylvania.”
Mr. Martin described some of his foundation’s collaborative initiatives, such as a partnership with Microsoft to educate children, parents, and teachers in Latin America about the Internet, and a program with the Inter-American Development Bank to create public service announcements (PSAs). One PSA, “Call and Live,” advertises a 24/7 toll-free number for trafficking victims and those who witness trafficking; so far, ten lives have been saved, he said. Urging “real policy change and real action,” Mr. Martin called for the adoption of international standards for birth certificates to safeguard against traffickers. He also recommended that Congress create a child trafficking division in the State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report, “expand federally funded initiatives for Internet crimes against children,” and increase financial support to foreign governments and nongovernmental organizations to combat trafficking. Mr. Martin said that the U.S. government should ratify the Charter of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, noting that “the United States is one of only two countries (Somalia being the other) yet to ratify this charter.”
