US gives Myanmar lowest possible ranking on human trafficking

Myanmar has received the lowest possible grade on the US’s list of human trafficking offenders. The annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, which will be released next week, will move the country from the “Tier 2 Watch List” to a “Tier 3” ranking. This puts Myanmar on the same level as Iran, North Korea and Syria. The downgrade was a response to perceived complacency by the country’s democratically elected government, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, towards combatting human trafficking. Ongoing problems with the use of child soldiers and forced labour and mistreatment of the country’s minority Muslim community, the Rohingyas, also affected the rating.

"This year’s Report places a special emphasis on human trafficking in the global marketplace. It highlights the hidden risks that workers may encounter when seeking employment and the steps that governments and businesses can take to prevent trafficking, including a demand for transparency in global supply chains.

"The bottom line is that this is no time for complacency. Right now, across the globe, victims of human trafficking are daring to imagine the possibility of escape, the chance for a life without fear, and the opportunity to earn a living wage. I echo the words of President Obama and say to them: We hear you, and we will do all we can to make that dream come true. In recent decades, we have learned a great deal about how to break up human trafficking networks and help victims recover in safety and dignity. In years to come, we will apply those lessons relentlessly, and we will not rest until modern slavery is ended." – John F. Kerry, Secretary of State

The Report

The 2015 Trafficking in Persons Report is available in PDF and HTML formats. The PDF is available as a complete one-piece file and as individual sections for easier download. To view the PDF files, you will need to download, at no cost, the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

To request a hard copy of the 2015 Trafficking in Persons Report, please email TIPOutreach@state.gov and provide your mailing address. Please note that due to high demand, your order may not be processed right away.

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