Assessing the Commitment of Combating Human Trafficking: A Legal and Humanitarian Perspective
June 20, 2007
3pm- 5pm Rayburn Building, Capitol Hill
Key Speakers:
Julia Ormond (UN Goodwill Ambassador Against Slavery)
Ambassador Mark Lagon (U.S. State Department)
Grace Chung Becker (U.S. Department of Justice)
Kevin Bales (President, Free the Slaves)
Holly Burkhalter (Vice President, International Justice Mission)
As the process to reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act H.R.2522 takes on, key players in Washington convened to discuss the status of human trafficking at home and abroad. Trafficking in persons is a lucrative crime that amounts to more than 10 billion dollars annually, ranking it second to drug trafficking as the most profitable criminal industry in the world. The focus of the caucus was to discuss the next measures to be taken in combating the atrocities of trafficking on all levels. Julia Ormond admitted that prior to her involvement in the movement she felt, "I am not a client, and therefore, I am not part of the problem". Chris Smith and the other noted representatives urged the audience to put themselves at the forefront of the cause by writing to legislator, raising awareness, and by making an end to human trafficking his or her priority.
Stories were shared by Mark Lagon and Julia Ormond of victim's hardships, both of labor enslavement and commercial sexual exploitation. One story was of a shrimp farming and processing plantation in Thailand that contained 800 undocumented migrant Burmese workers. They were locked in underground rooms during raids and were prohibited from leaving the compound. On this farm, there were also cases of gender-based violence where four women were found with shaved heads after being tied to poles as punishment for attempted escape. Sadly, there are plenty more farming and processing plantations like this in Thailand, and the world at large.
Ambassador Mark Lagon went on to illustrate the Trafficking in Persons Report (2007) in function and approach. The system identified 164 countries where at least 100 cases of human trafficking were documented. These countries were then evaluated in terms of the government's ability to promote the prosecution, prevention, and protection of trafficking victims. Once evaluated, the countries were then ranked Tier 1, Tier 2, Watch List, or Tier 3 depending on their willingness to address the problem. If a country lands on Tier 3, they may suffer economic sanctions and loss of U.S. aid. Ambassador Mark Lagon concluded in saying that human trafficking has proven to be the greatest disempowerment of girls in the world.
Congressman Chris Smith followed by promising to maintain a bipartisan block against human trafficking in Congress. As the reauthorization of the HR 2522, Congress is working to strengthen the act by allowing countries on the Tier 2 Watch List only two years before they will endure the economic sanctions of Tier 3. In addition, Holly Burkhalter added to the conversation by asserting that diplomats will no longer receive legal immunity to harbor slaves. In addition, the bill calls for an expansion of the T Visa eligibility and calls for more counseling and medical care for the victims of human trafficking. The unofficial theme of the caucus was to promote the notion that victims will no longer be blamed or penalized for the acts committed while having been trafficked.
In conclusion, the panel took questions from the audience and engaged in serious topics such as the role of globalization and international investment banks in the situation of trafficking in persons. Ms. Burkhalter urged House and Senate staffers to urge their Congresspersons to look seriously at combating human trafficking in the U.S. and overseas. Ambassador Mark Lagon then went on to conclude that the essence of trafficking is the dehumanization and degradation of real people. According to the Ambassador, "not just one ethnicity or men are human beings". At the end of the caucus press were invited to ask questions separately and materials such as the Trafficking in Persons Report (2007) were available for the audience.