Thank you, Madam Moderator, and thank you to the briefers for your compelling presentations.
Human trafficking is a crime affecting over 27 million people globally, impacting communities and national security. It contradicts human dignity and freedom.
President Trump has emphasized the need to address "the scourge of sex trafficking, a form of modern-day slavery that has battered multitudes of innocent lives and scarred untold numbers of our most vulnerable fellow citizens."
During the first Trump Administration, several legislative efforts were initiated, including the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act and the Abolish Human Trafficking Act of 2017, to enhance authorities against human trafficking.
The current Administration remains dedicated to utilizing every available tool to combat human trafficking, a crime that undermines law enforcement, threatens global security, and hinders prosperity.
One such tool is the U.S. Department of State’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report), which evaluates anti-trafficking efforts in 188 countries and territories, including the United States.
The TIP Report is recognized as a comprehensive resource on governmental anti-trafficking initiatives worldwide. It outlines strategies for governments to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute traffickers. The report also highlights transnational criminal organizations and countries involved in state-sponsored forced labor.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the United States’ Trafficking Victims Protection Act. This legislation has significantly supported U.S. and international efforts to combat human trafficking alongside the Palermo Protocol. The United States takes pride in having influenced global anti-trafficking measures.
Combating human trafficking safeguards individuals, communities, businesses, and workers both domestically and internationally. All nations must take decisive actions against sex trafficking and labor trafficking.
Every perpetrator stopped represents progress against traffickers and criminal organizations profiting from human exploitation.