The U.S. State Department recently released its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report for the year 2019, retaining India’s position on the Tier-2 country trafficking scale. This report utilizes data from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to highlight international trafficking trends and efforts to combat them.
TIP Report Findings
The TIP report unveils some alarming statistics about human trafficking globally. It identifies 25 million adults and children worldwide who are victims of sex and labour trafficking. The report indicates that a staggering 77% of victims are trafficked within their own countries, outpacing cross-border trafficking in all regions except Western, Central Europe, the Middle East, and parts of East Asia. Furthermore, it shows a trend: victims of sex trafficking were more likely to be trafficked across borders, while forced labour victims were typically exploited domestically.
Emphasis on the Implementation of the Palermo Protocol
The TIP report emphasizes the need for countries to implement the Palermo Protocols to combat trafficking effectively. These are three United Nations-adopted protocols supplementing the 2000 Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. They aim to prevent, suppress, and punish trafficking, especially involving women and children, smuggling of migrants, and illicit manufacturing and trafficking in firearms. These protocols fall within the jurisdiction of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Country Categorisation within TIP Report
The report categorises each country not on the size of its trafficking problem but its effort in meeting minimum anti-human trafficking standards. Each gets placed into one of three tiers in the system:
- Tier 1: Fully complying with Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) minimum standards.
- Tier 2: Not fully compliant but making significant strides towards compliance.
- Tier 3: Non-compliant and not making significant efforts towards compliance.
Apart from these, there also exist “Special Cases” like Yemen and Sint Maarten, where conditions have made reporting difficult.
Trafficking Statistics and Information Across the World
| Region | % of Domestic Trafficking | % of Cross-Border Trafficking |
|---|---|---|
| World Average | 77% | 23% |
| Western and Central Europe | Less than 77% | More than 23% |
| Middle East | Less than 77% | More than 23% |
| East Asia | Less than 77% | More than 23% |
India’s Position and Recommendations
India remains in Tier 2 in the TIP report. The report acknowledges the Indian government’s increasing efforts to tackle trafficking and convict traffickers, especially following reports of government complicity in forced labour and sex trafficking. However, systemic failures persist, particularly in addressing trafficking in government-run and funded shelter homes.
The report suggests India amend Section 370 of the Penal Code to broaden the definition of trafficking to include forced labour. It also calls for the establishment of Anti-Human Trafficking Units across all districts, with dedicated funding and clear mandates.
