Hong Kong must be vigilant on human trafficking

Date: 30 June 2014

Source: SCMP

 

An opinion piece discusses Hong Kong’s trafficking issues, including the exploitation of foreign domestic helpers and sexual exploitation.

Click here to read the full story.

 

 

 

Nepal’s Organ Trail: How traffickers steal kidneys

Date: 30 June 2014

Source: CNN Freedom Project

 

Learn more about organ trafficking and how it happens through a documentary by CNN’s Freedom Project. This documentary focuses on kidney trafficking in Nepal.

Click here to view the video.

 

 

 

Human trafficking in the Philippines

Date: 29 June 2014

Source: Sun Star Manila

 

Since receiving a Tier 2 classification in the recent Trafficking in Persons report, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has proclaimed that the “country remains a leader in Southeast Asian Region in fighting human trafficking.”

Click here to read the full story.

 

 

 

Resource: Five things you did not know about human trafficking

Date: 27 June 2014

Source: Department of State Official Blog

 

Click here to read the full story.

 

 

 

U.S. releases Trafficking in Persons Report 2014

Date: 23 June 2014

 

On 20 June, the U.S. Department of State released the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 2014. For this year, Hong Kong remains at Tier 2 and China has moved up from Tier 3 to Tier 2 Watch List. Both Malaysia and Thailand have been downgraded from Tier 2 Watch List to Tier 3.

Click here to read the report on Hong Kong.

Click here to access the full report.

 

 

 

US human trafficking report misleading, says Hong Kong

Date: 22 June 2014

Source: SCMP

 

Hong Kong has responded to the recent release of the U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report 2014 which, for the first time, has identified the city as a source territory, destination and transit point for trafficking. A government official says the report does not fully reflect the unfailing commitment and continuous efforts of the government in the fight against human trafficking.

Click here to read the full story.

 

 

 

Malaysia urges US to review human trafficking blacklist

Date: 22 June 2014

Source: The Strait Times

 

Malaysia rejected harsh US criticism for failing to tackle human trafficking. The foreign ministry of Malaysia said combating “this heinous crime” was “still a work in progress”.

Click here to read the full story.

 

 

 

Thailand deeply disappointed with downgrading in US human trafficking report

Date: 21 June 2014

Source: The Strait Times

 

Thailand was downgraded to Tier 3 in the recent Trafficking in Person Report 2014, the lowest possible ranking for national responses to fighting modern day slavery. “It is a very great disappointment for us and we disagree with the ranking,” said acting Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow.

Click here to read the full story.

 

Related stories:

Thailand junta chief threatens to crack down on trafficking (21 June).

Human traffickers removed from Phuket’s migrant-labor supply chain (1 July).

 

 

 

Resource: The Freedom Dialogue

Date: 16 June 2014

 

The recently launched Freedom Dialogue is a mini video podcast series that examines emerging human trafficking issues with leading experts. In the first episode, Helen Sworn and Christa Foster Crawford discuss the importance of collaboration to counter trafficking work.

 

First Freedom Dialogue

 

 

 

Resource: International Labour Organization (ILO) Report

Date: 16 June 2014

 

ILO’s recently published report highlights how forced labour thrives in the incubator of poverty and vulnerability, low levels of education and literacy, migration and other factors. It discusses the need for stronger measures of prevention and protection, and provides new knowledge of the determinants of forced labour that can help us develop and expand policies and programs to stop forced labour and prevent it before it occurs.

 

Profits and Poverty: The Economics of Forced Labour