15849: (Chamberlain) Human Trafficking (Haiti listed) (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Greg Chamberlain <GregChamberlain@compuserve.com>

   By JONATHAN D. SALANT

   WASHINGTON, June 11 (AP) -- Fifteen countries, including U.S. allies
Greece and Turkey, have made no significant efforts to stop trafficking in
humans and may face sanctions, the State Department said Wednesday.
   The number of countries cited this year is lower than the 19 accused by
the department last year of not doing enough to prevent people from being
taken to other countries against their will.
   "In our 21st century world, where freedom and democracy are spreading to
every continent, it is appalling and morally unacceptable that hundreds of
thousands of men, women and children are exploited, abused and enslaved by
peddlers in human misery," said Secretary of State Colin Powell as he
released the department's third annual report.
   The report warned that problems could develop in postwar Iraq. "In many
conflict situations, criminal elements have exploited the breakdown of rule
of law and the desperation of vulnerable families and abducted, forced or
tricked individuals into prostitution," the report said.
   The United States is not immune from the problem; the government
estimates that 800,000 to 900,000 people are trafficked annually across
international borders worldwide, with 18,000 to 20,000 winding up in the
United States.
   Human Rights Watch criticized the report, saying it failed to
meaningfully evaluate governments' efforts to combat trafficking in
persons.
   "The report gives undue credit for minimal effort and ignores government
practices, such as summary deportation and incarceration that effectively
punish trafficking victims," the New York-based group said.
   Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who sponsored legislation requiring the
report, said progress was being made.
   "I am pleased that more countries are taking human slavery seriously,
that victims -- most of whom are women and children -- are being protected
and traffickers are being prosecuted," said Smith, a member of the House
International Relations Committee. "With sanctions looming, there has been
significant progress with a number of nations instituting reforms like new
laws and protection policies, especially within the last three months."
   For the first time, countries that do not take actions to stop human
trafficking could face the loss of U.S. assistance, though the government
can waive any penalties. The sanctions would take effect Oct. 1.
   In addition to Greece and Turkey, the countries facing sanctions are
Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burma, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Georgia,
Haiti, Kazakhstan, Liberia, North Korea, Sudan, Suriname and Uzbekistan.
   Former Rep. Linda Smith, R-Wash., said she expected many of the
countries facing sanctions to make strong efforts to meet the
anti-trafficking standards.
   "The very fact that there is a report is causing changes in behavior,"
said Smith, now president and founder of Shared Hope International, a
nonprofit organization that fights trafficking and tries to rescue girls
and women forced to work as prostitutes.
   An additional 74 countries did not meet the minimum standards but made
"significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance."
   Those countries are Albania, Angola, Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa
Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland,
Gabon, Gambia, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel,
Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Krygyz Republic, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,
Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Moldova, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua,
Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovak
Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Ukraine, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
   Described as complying fully with the standards, which include punishing
traffickers and making serious efforts to eliminate the problem, are the
following 26 countries: Austria, Belgium, Benin, Colombia, Czech Republic,
Denmark, France, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, Italy, Lithuania, Macedonia,
Mauritius, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Korea,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates and the United
Kingdom.
   The State Department said it couldn't assess the situation in
Afghanistan, though the new government there has condemned trafficking, or
in Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Mauritania, Somalia and Tunisia.
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   On the Net:
   State Department: http://www.state.gov