WASHINGTON, D.C., June 19, 2013 — American Bar Association President Laurel G. Bellows underscored the importance of today’s release of the State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report, which reviews more than 180 countries on how they address human trafficking. The TIP Report is “the world’s most comprehensive resource of government anti-human trafficking efforts and reflects the U.S. government’s commitment to global leadership on this key human rights and law enforcement issue,” according to the State Department.

“With this candid report, the United States shines a light on the horror of modern slavery around the world, including here at home, and provides an important diplomatic tool,” Bellows said. “Through his brilliant leadership, Ambassador Luis CdeBaca has given other governments a foundation for eradicating human trafficking around the world and also inspired the U.S. legal community to act. His efforts to call attention to human trafficking in global supply chains and highlight the need for corporate conduct standards provide a model that the ABA is working to institute in the United States.”

In the TIP Report, the State Department places each country into one of three tiers based on the extent of each government’s efforts to comply with the “minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking” found in Section 108 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. While Tier 1 is the highest ranking, it does not mean that a country has no human trafficking problems. On the contrary, a Tier 1 ranking indicates that a government has acknowledged the existence of human trafficking, made efforts to address the problem and complies with the TVPA’s minimum standards.

In conjunction with the release of the TIP Report, Secretary of State John Kerry is also honoring individuals around the world who have devoted their lives to fighting human trafficking. These “TIP Report Heroes” include advocates, lawyers, police officers and government officials who engage in tireless efforts to protect trafficked persons, to hold traffickers accountable for their crimes and to raise public awareness of this worldwide problem.

“We owe a special thanks to the TIP Report Heroes, who have relentlessly sought in their home countries to rid the world of modern-day slavery,” Bellows said.

On June 18, the ABA hosted a public question-and-answer session with the TIP Report Heroes. This event presented an opportunity for the general public to engage with the heroes in discussions about their work and their perspective on efforts to combat human trafficking globally. The ABA Task Force on Human Trafficking sponsored this program, and Chief Counsel Vivian Huelgo moderated the discussion.

To access the TIP Report, click here.

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