Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP) is an agency within the United States Department of State charged with investigating and creating programs to prevent human trafficking both within the United States and internationally. The office also presents the Trafficking in Persons Report annually to Congress, concerning human trafficking in the U.S. and other nations. This report aims to raise awareness about human exploitation and trafficking, and to prevent it. The office’s goals are to make the public aware, protect victims, take legal action against violators, establish necessary and just sentences for criminals, and train law enforcement individuals.

History

The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons was established in October 2001 as a result of the passing of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. This enabling legislation required the President to create a bureau within the State Department to specifically address human trafficking and exploitation on all levels and to take legal action against perpetrators. Additionally, this act was designed to also enforce all laws within the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution that apply.

Currently, there is a U. S. Law on Trafficking in Persons, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), which has three updated versions. The latest was implemented in January 2006.^[1][2][3]

Activities

The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons monitors human trafficking and prosecutes perpetrators. It divides nations into tiers based on their compliance with standards outlined in the TVPA. These tiers are:

• Tier 1 Countries whose governments fully comply with the TVPA's minimum standards.
• Tier 2 Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.
• Tier 2 Watchlist Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards AND: a) The absolute number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is very significant or is significantly increasing; or b) There is a failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons from the previous year; or c) The determination that a country is making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with minimum standards was based on commitments by the country to take additional future steps over the next year.
• Tier 3 Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so.

Officials

Directors

• Nancy Ely-Raphel (2001–2002)
• John R. Miller (2002–2006)
• Paula Goode (acting - 2006–2007)
• Mark P. Lagon (2007–2009)
• Nan Kennelly (acting - 2009)
• Luis CdeBaca (2009– )

Deputy Directors

• JoAnn Schneider (?–2005)
• Paula Goode (2005–2009)
• Nan Kennelly (2008– )

Other

• Laura Lederer (Senior Director of Global Projects; Senior Advisor on Trafficking in Persons to Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, 2001–2009)

Report Trafficking in the US

Call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (1-888-373-7888) to report a potential case of human trafficking; to connect with anti-trafficking services in your area; or, to request training and technical assistance, general information or specific anti-trafficking resources. The hotline is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, but is operated by Polaris Project, a non-governmental organization. Victims can call for help, even if they are undocumented. Victims are commonly trafficked internationally as well as within their own countries.

Notes

1. ^ Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386)
2. ^ Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003 (H.R. 2620)
3. ^ Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (H.R. 972)

External links

• Official website
• Punishing Trafficking Offenders Adequately
• Department of Health and Human Services Rescue and Restore Campaign
• National Human Trafficking Resource Center