U.S. Expands Human Trafficking Watchlist

State Department Adds Twelve More Countries To Annual Report For A Total Of 52

(AP)  The Obama administration on Tuesday expanded the U.S. watchlist of countries suspected of not doing enough to combat human trafficking, putting more than four dozen nations on notice that they might face sanctions unless their records improve.

The State Department's annual "Trafficking in Persons Report," the first released since President Barack Obama took office, placed 52 countries and territories; mainly in Africa, Asia and the Middle East; on the watchlist. That number is a 30 percent jump from the 40 countries on the list in 2008.

Several previously cited nations were removed from the list, but new countries cited for human trafficking problems include Angola, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Iraq, Lebanon, Nicaragua, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Senegal and the United Arab Emirates.

The report also placed the Netherlands' Antilles, a self-governing Dutch territory in the Caribbean, on the watchlist.

"With this report, we hope to shine the light brightly on the scope and scale of modern slavery so all governments can see where progress has been made and where more is needed," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said as she released the 320-page document.

Inclusion on the watchlist means those countries' governments are not fully complying with minimum standards set by U.S. law for cooperating in efforts to reduce the rise of human trafficking; a common denominator in the sex trade, coerced labor and recruitment of child soldiers.

If a country appears on the list for two consecutive years, it can be subject to U.S. sanctions.

Seventeen nations, up from 14 in 2008, are now subject to the trafficking sanctions, which can include a ban on non-humanitarian and trade-related aid and U.S. opposition to loans and credits from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. The penalties can be waived if the president determines it is in U.S. national interest to do so.

Those 17 countries include traditional U.S. foes like Cuba, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Sudan and Syria, but also American allies and friends such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Malaysia, another U.S. partner, was added to the list of worst offenders as were Zimbabwe, Chad, Eritrea, Mauritania, Niger, and Swaziland.

[reality42]

This is a great comment and very true. Understand how other country feel about the bullying USA. How would we like it if Iran dectated how thing will be operated in America?? We need to look after and fix the problems in our country first like Poverty, health care, education,and imigration Laws.


Why is it ok for the US govt to extort the world? (notice I did not say "us" because you and the federal govt are NOT connected) When did the US get legal jurisdiction over the whole world by imposing its policy onto foriegn countries?

[reality42]

Angeles City in the Philippines, has been USA sex traffic zone for the Philippine women for years. Every where the US army goes (Cambodia, Vietnam Thailand)they turn it into a sex traffic zone.
Come on Obama clean up your own back yard first and stop being a war bully and clean up my America.

[culturechang]

What they do is extort these countries with our tax money. These countries must ban prostitution or get cut off from aid. Richer countries like Singapore or Germany have legalized prostitution. Well, the widely varying prostitution laws around the world is what creates the demand for human trafficking. In effect, we created this problem with our own extortion tactics.

This extortion is similar to what they do with the states. They force the states to adopt federal standards (on many things from traffick and DUI laws or sex offenders laws) or face a cutoff on federal money. Well, this was our money to begin with. They just extorted you with your own money.

Why is it ok for the US govt to extort the world? (notice I did not say "us" because you and the federal govt are NOT connected) When did the US get legal jurisdiction over the whole world by imposing its policy onto foriegn countries?

I am just waiting for a big enough scandal to get the public's attention as to what a bankrupt program this thing really is. Most of it was built by hypocrites like Elliot Sptizer who cared nothing for victims....it was all about political grandstanding for HIM.

[culturechang]

The whole progam is an intrusion of US morals onto the rest of the world. We spend $150 million a year on this progrma.

[culturechang]

Always the hysterics of human trafficking. Every year, the State dept slings mud internally from a "high moral ground" over this prostitution crusade. And that is all it is....an excuse for the FBI to chase prostitutes. And they did...while they ignored Wall Street and brewing economic crisis over the last 8 years.

The entire program was built on lies....like many other federal policies today. They estimated in 2000 that 50000 "victims" were trafficked into the US.

In November 2007, the State dept said they had found only 1100 "victims" in 8 years. Out of 400,000 they should have found, that estimate was less than 1% accurate. And the State dept admitted that most of those victims were consensual adult prostitutes who willingly came to the US for prostitution.

And what will they likely do? Ignore the real numbers.....double the estimates (without any basis) and then double the budget for the whole program.

[goldsummer]

"Inclusion on the watchlist means those countries' governments are not fully complying with minimum standards set by U.S. law"

Since when does the rest of the world have to comply with U.S. law ? Perhaps this is better addressed by the U.N.

Don't get me wrong here. I'm not condoning human trafficking, slavery, or child slave labor.All I'm saying is that the US is better sticking to making thier laws work in thier own country considering the US is a huge port of trafficking for slave traders. Anyone that doubts me can watch "The Pet", watch the list at the end of the movie for a list of ports.

[Patriot-STL]

According to Obama, doing something about human trafficking is "meddling" isn't it? To see a black conservative roast Obama chestnuts on an open fire, go here www.theblacksphere.net!

[hamiltongrad]

All well and good. But, with the world in chaos, I for one would like to see Ms. Clinton use her terrific skills in openly supporting the freedom fighters in Iran, those who love tolerance in Leb., and set limits with results for North Korea. What the hell is this all about ?