US Department of State Releases Trafficking in Persons Report

16 June 2009

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton released the ninth annual TIP Report in a public event at the State Department on June 16, 2009. The goal of this Report is to stimulate action and create partnerships around the world in the fight against modern-day slavery.  Countries assessed as meeting the "minimum standards for the elimination of severe forms of trafficking" set forth in the TVPA are classified as “Tier 1,” while those doing less will be classified as “Tier 2” or “Tier 3.” Poland has been given a ranking of Tier 1, because the Government of Poland fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. This ranking recognizes that the Polish government has increased its reflection period for foreign victims to 90 days and also significantly increased funding for victim assistance programs. To read the entire TIP report click here. To view more information on Trafficking In Persons and a photo gallery click here.

The Polish government has helped fight trafficking in persons by pledging additional support for the only specialized trafficking shelter in the country and expanding the capacity of non-specialized shelters and crisis intervention centers to provide assistance to trafficking victims.  The Polish government has worked with NGOs and international organizations to raise awareness of trafficking in Poland and abroad, including a limited number of campaigns to reduce demand for commercial sex acts.

The U.S. Congress, through its passage of the 2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Act, as amended (TVPA), requires the Secretary of State to submit an annual Report to Congress. The USG approach to combating human trafficking follows the TVPA and the standards set forth in the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (commonly known as the "Palermo Protocol"). The TVPA and the Palermo Protocol recognize that this is a crime in which the victims' labor or services  (including in the "sex industry") are obtained or maintained through force, fraud, or coercion, whether overt or through psychological manipulation. While much attention has focused on international flows, both the TVPA and the Palermo Protocol focus on the exploitation of the victim, and do not require a showing that the victim was moved.

Recent amendments to the TVPA removed the requirement that only countries with a "significant number" of trafficking victims be included in the Report. Beginning with the 2009 TIP Report, countries determined to be a country of origin, transit, or destination for victims of severe forms of trafficking are included in the Report and assigned to one of three tiers.  Countries assessed as meeting the "minimum standards for the elimination of severe forms of trafficking" set forth in the TVPA are classified as Tier 1.  Countries assessed as not fully complying with the minimum standards, but making significant efforts to meet those minimum standards are classified as Tier 2.  Countries assessed as neither complying with the minimum standards nor making significant efforts to do so are classified as Tier 3. Countries classified as Tier 3 may be subject to statutory restrictions for the subsequent fiscal year on non-humanitarian and non-trade-related foreign assistance and, in some circumstances, withholding of funding for participation by government officials or employees in educational and cultural exchange programs.