Michelle Cooper Bloom The United States government urges the GOI to continue its ongoing attempts to assert command and control over all elements of the PMF. The conversation started, I have never been so humiliated; how was I supposed to maintain my composure? After a few moments of inquiring, I was informed of what was so humiliating to her, me. The majority of the allegations were in the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan. The Secretary of State identified the following countries as having governmental armed forces, police, or other security forces or government-supported armed groups that recruited or used child soldiers within the meaning of section 404(a) of the CSPA during the reporting period of April 1, 2019 March 31, 2020: Afghanistan, Burma, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The basic meaning of these forms of human trafficking and some unique characteristics of each are set forth below, followed by several key principles and concepts that relate to all forms of human trafficking. The afternoon after Vandergrift went missing, SFPD sent out a press release to request the public's help with finding him. During an early July 2019 evaluation meeting in Yaound, the Head of the DDR Committee, Francis Fai Yengo, stated that at least 56 armed separatist fighters in the Northwest and Southwest Regions were reported to have laid down their arms and joined DDR centers, while 109 Boko Haram fighters had laid down their weapons in the Far North Region and were being housed at the DDR center in Mora. For example, law enforcement may become inundated with false information they are required to follow up on or investigate, especially when reports relate to children, stretching already limited time and resources. Bulgaria Breast feeding child began having seizures, another with brain and abdominal neoplasms, another with multiple strokes and brain lesions, heart attacks, etc. Whether the government of the country achieves appreciable progress in eliminating severe forms of trafficking when compared to the assessment in the previous year. Many anti-trafficking organizations also responded to the pandemic by emphasizing staff wellness, especially for employees with lived experience of human trafficking who are at risk of heightened responses to the stress caused by the pandemic. Recruitment and use of child soldiers by the CJTF, a non-governmental self-defense force that receives limited support from the Borno State government, contributed to Nigerias listing under the CSPA from 2015-2018 due to its past use of children. Tunisia Page 49: Matilde Simas A compilation of statistics from the National Crime Information Center's (NCIC's) Missing Person and Unidentified Person Files for the 2021 operational year. For example, organizations will prioritize hiring a survivor as a staff member or consultant and then equate that action with becoming a fully trauma-informed entity, while failing to use a trauma-informed approach to care, which often retraumatizes individuals receiving services. When a White person goes missing, you hear about it every five minutes. Slovenia In the same survey, more than 50 percent of migrant workers reported bearing new debts because of the pandemic. Georgia I look forward to once again engaging in-person with government counterparts, NGO representatives, and individuals with lived experience to continue the two decades of progress that was celebrated and recognized last year in the twentieth TIP Report. broad-based law enforcement or developmental initiatives. In California, a . The most durable solution to the unlawful recruitment and use of child soldiers will be a political solution that ends the conflict. When Mei returned to Xinjiang Region in China to visit her ill father, Chinese officials stopped her at the border with Kazakhstan and seized her passport. If you want to get something on the front page please help provide. Other collaborative efforts have provided anti-trafficking stakeholders, including service providers, investigators, prosecutors, and first responders, with the tools, equipment, and guidance to protect themselves against and screen for the virus, which is essential to ensuring the health and safety of victims, survivors, and vulnerable populations. Despite the attention towards and growth in understanding of a survivor-informed approach, gaps arose in how different agencies and organizations in various settings applied it. In line with MC Decision 6/17, in 2020 the OSR/CTHB, in co-operation with anti-trafficking Focal Points and DHR, finalized the development of a learning module on combating TIP for the OSCE executive structures as part of the new All OnBoard programme. If another family member notices the exploitation of the child, there is a strong incentive to look the other way to protect the family, both physically and in reputation, from outside interventions. Many organizations have published collaborative reports, such as Road to Recovery produced by Restore NYC, a U.S.-based service provider, in partnership with eight other anti-trafficking organizations, many of which were survivor-led and from various regions of the country, to present shared experiences and findings from service provision and organizational adaptations during COVID-19, as well as forward-looking takeaways. Dont hold your breath on that though. 65 allegations were made against military, police, and civilian personnel. Missing Persons. Given constraints around physical space and financial resources, service providers and NGOs may need to develop creative ways to establish a child-friendly space. For the fifth consecutive year, there were no cases of unlawful recruitment or use by FARDC. Jamaica Papua New Guinea In Uganda, the Human Trafficking Institute (HTI) developed a forum via WhatsApp to establish communication among police and prosecutors during the shutdown. Atsuki Takahashi Page 45: Adria Malcolm Sudan Continuing to bolster Afghan military capability and professionalization through military education and training of Afghan security forces will contribute to a climate that is more favorable for achieving a political settlement and implementing its outcomes. Forms of slavery or slavery-like practicesincluding the sale of children, forced or compulsory child labor, and debt bondage and serfdom of childrencontinue to exist, despite legal prohibitions and widespread condemnation. We arent victims because we chose this life. In Xinjiang, the government is the trafficker. When there was an error at the local health clinic, and my blood got mixed up with another persons, I tested false positive for AIDS. As of April 5, no PKO funds have been obligated in FY 2021. International Military Education and Training $154,921 While the TVPA and UN TIP Protocol call on governments to proactively address trafficking crimes, some governments are part of the problem, directly compelling their citizens into sexual slavery or forced labor schemes. Kosovo IMET funding for Cameroon increases the professionalization of the military through professional military education (PME) training in the United States. The Department of State prepared this Report using information from U.S. embassies, government officials, nongovernmental and international organizations, published reports, news articles, academic studies, consultations with authorities and organizations in every region of the world, and information submitted to tipreport@state.gov. While the number of individuals at risk of trafficking grew during the pandemic, so did the conditions under which traffickers thrive. As of April 5, IMET funding was obligated for the following activity: military professionalization training. Other children excel, whether because school is where they feel safe or because they have been conditioned to please adults in their lives or developed resiliency and survival skills early in life. As seen in most fields during the pandemic, technology has become a powerful means to connect people and collect information, while limiting individuals exposure to the virus. Sheila was last seen at [] Page 638: Sara Hylton Laos This emphasizes the importance of prioritizing safety, privacy, and informed use of technology when facilitating virtual trafficking assessments, investigations, and coordination of services with trafficking victims. Iran Between April 2020 and March 2021, Comoros and Nepal became States Parties to the Protocol. Led by Khassanova, Sana Sezim has worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to keep its shelter open for trafficking victims and to raise awareness about safe migration and human trafficking. Coercion in the case of sex trafficking includes the broad array of nonviolent means included in the forced labor definition. Burkina Faso Joshua Youle Public statements by government officials against the unlawful recruitment and use of child soldiers and improvements in reporting, prevention, and protection mechanisms demonstrate that even with its limited capacity the Government of Yemen continues to address the issue. Similarly, a study by the Government of the Philippines also found many overseas Filipino workers were stranded with their savings exhausted during 2020. Missing Persons Robberies X News 2023 Press Releases 2022 Press Releases . When the FARDC justice system received credible reports that soldiers in the 2105th regiment had abducted underage girls, they quickly opened an investigation and detained suspected abusers. Seychelles The acts element of sex trafficking is met when a trafficker recruits, harbors, transports, provides, obtains, patronizes, or solicits another person to engage in commercial sex. Tegan Hare It also allowed the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Trafficking Prosecutor and HTIs legal expert to provide mentorship and technical assistance on trafficking cases to forum participants across the country. The Department of State assesses that immense social and economic insecurity caused by the current conflict is the primary driver for the ongoing unlawful recruitment and use of child soldiers in Libya. Security assistance to Afghanistan subject to the CSPA restriction fulfills critical U.S. counterterrorism objectives and fosters conditions that enable an end to the conflict in Afghanistan. Australia As a result, APRAMP was able to remain active in reporting on sex trafficking trends, thus providing strategic information to other relevant stakeholders. In turn, this training would support our efforts to prevent recruitment of child soldiers. NGOs from various countries separately reported significant funding cuts due to COVID-19, which forced some to halt all assistance or cancel certain victim-support services. The Government of Thailand issued a Cabinet Resolution in August 2020 that made it easier to obtain new work permits and provided extensions for migrants working in Thailand. Toys, art supplies, and age-appropriate books are also provided. Please enable JavaScript to view the page content. Bemaka-Soui is also sensitive to the effects that human trafficking has on individuals and their communities. Individuals in underserved communities faced barriers to accessing healthcare, while foreigners were stigmatized as carriers and spreaders of the virus, placing them at higher risk for exploitation and violence. Disruptions to public justice systems and diversion of resources from anti-trafficking efforts during the pandemic increased impunity for traffickers and lowered the odds of their arrest. In 2019, Congress amended the TVPA to acknowledge that governments can also act as traffickers, referring specifically to a government policy or pattern of human trafficking, trafficking in government-funded programs, forced labor in government-affiliated medical services or other sectors, sexual slavery in government camps, or the employment or recruitment of child soldiers. Abigail Long Marshall Islands NATO Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Action Plan to be adopted by October 2020. If you have a tip or would like to add a case to the web site, call the New Jersey State Police: Missing Persons Unit at #609-882-2000, extension x2554. In many ways, the United States and other governments face human trafficking challenges and trends today that reflect the living legacy of the systemic racism and colonization globalized during the transatlantic slave trade through chattel slavery and regional practices of indigenous dispossession. Iraq They also trained 176 officials in the identification of child soldiers and have training focal points in each SNA sector regarding the prohibition against children in armed conflict. This year, the TIP Report introduction examines the emerging trends, challenges, and adaptations to global anti-trafficking efforts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments across the world diverted resources toward the pandemic, often at the expense of anti-trafficking efforts, resulting in decreased protection measures and service provision for victims, reduction of preventative efforts, and hindrances to investigations and prosecutions of traffickers. Russia Whether the government of the country cooperates with other governments in the investigation and prosecution of severe forms of trafficking in persons and has entered into bilateral, multilateral, or regional law enforcement cooperation and coordination arrangements with other countries. Brenda Lee Mackey Missing Since: 05/19/2015 Last Seen: Walker, WV. Always discerning the needs of the moment,Pooleadapts to meet new challenges. Emily A. Korenak Anna Cornacchio To date, there are 1044 VAERS records for the Covid jabs which are tied to blindness as a symptom. The FATF Recommendations provide a useful framework for jurisdictions to address illicit finance related to human trafficking by strengthening their national AML laws and policies and by improving coordination and information sharing domestically and internationally. Get the latest news and breaking news reports on missing persons in your local area, the U.S. and worldwide on the New York Post. The spread of misinformation about human trafficking also means that anti-trafficking experts and organizations need to allocate time and resources to re-educate the public. When the family member is the trafficker, the exploitation is often normalized and accepted within the family culture, sometimes spanning generations. It is imperative that the public fully understand the negative effects that spreading and acting on these rumors and misinformation can have on service providers, victims and survivors, and the broader anti-trafficking field. NGOs have also reported experiencing cyberattacks and threats on social media when they post statements debunking misinformation. Burma This years Trafficking in Persons Report sends a strong message to the world that global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and enduring discriminatory policies and practices, have a disproportionate effect on individuals already oppressed by other injustices. I left the escort service at that point. Outlined below is a description of what it means to be both trauma- and survivor-informed, as well as recommendations on integrating both approaches as one, comprehensive effort. Norway Nigeria may receive EDA for maritime security improvements in the form of former U.S. Coast Guard vessels, which have been used to improve maritime navigation and counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Guinea and Niger Delta. Katherine Borgen As of April 5, no PKO funding was obligated in FY 2021. International Military Education and Training $197,433 Marshall Islands Missing Persons: where the circumstances indicate a strong possibility of foul play and the victim is still missing. Page 44: Elisabetta Zavoli Amy Rustan Haslett Low-wage and migrant workers and those in the informal economy faced riskier employment conditions, including restricted movement, minimal oversight mechanisms, withheld wages, and increasing debtsall indicators or flags for human trafficking. If a government has penalized or punished a victim in such a way, the government should vacate the conviction and/or expunge the victims record. South Sudan In the first seven months of the pandemic, the International Aid Transparency Initiative noted a reduction of 17 percent in bilateral donor commitments between 2019 and 2020, which included a five percent decline in ODA. It was the winter after my 19th year; my mother was informed that I was seeing a boy. Timor-Leste The Government of Nigeria should continue to make progress in combating the unlawful recruitment and use of child soldiers. United States of America, Albania Invite a diversity of lived experience experts to be part of organizational staffing, not only because of what they have survived but also for the professional skills and expertise they offer. The tier ranking justification appears in the first paragraph of each country narrative and includes language that explicitly highlights the factors supporting a given tier ranking. While not all states have a database . Criminal justice systems often delayed and suspended overall prosecution efforts while law enforcement officials worked to manage COVID-19 outbreaks, even within their own units. Description and Amount of Assistance Provided Pursuant to a Waiver. The TVPA provides such liability for any legal person, including a business that benefits financially from its involvement in a human trafficking scheme, provided that the business knew or should have known of the scheme. South Africa In addition, IOM developed free, publicly available tools, such as its online course, Countering Human Trafficking in Humanitarian Settings and its publication, Counter-Trafficking in Emergencies: Information Management Guide, to encourage humanitarians, government staff, anti-trafficking experts, and others to integrate anti-trafficking into their response work routinely. Korea, South Despite this, the successes, the failures, and even the unknown results of the anti-trafficking response to COVID-19 allowed for new insights and solutions to pave a better path forward. In 2019, Congress amended the TVPA to acknowledge that governments can also act as traffickers, referring specifically to a government policy or pattern of human trafficking, human trafficking in government-funded programs, forced labor in government-affiliated medical services or other sectors, sexual slavery in government camps, or the employment or recruitment of child soldiers. Chad Victims and survivors faced obstacles accessing assistance and support as lockdowns, social distancing protocols, and a lack of resources caused service providers to close shelters and reduce services. As the pandemic taught anti-trafficking actors to adapt and view challenges from new perspectives, it is apparent that an equity-based approach is essential to the remainder of the pandemic response, as well as the future of the anti-trafficking field. These harmful practices include redlining, lending discrimination, unequal distribution of government subsidies and services, restricted entry into white collar or higher paying jobs, and intentional exclusions of certain professions from worker protections. In this committee, she played a major role in promoting victim identification and protections for child trafficking victims. From there, Joriz exploited Benilda in another form of sex trafficking by forcing her to engage in commercial sex acts at local hotels. Page 13: Smita Sharma The OSCE provides workshops and training to participating States on preventing trafficking in the organizations supply chains, and identifying and protecting trafficking victims. Authorities recovered the vehicle, which had been submerged in 10-12 feet of water, and discovered human remains inside. 1. Rebecca Lesnak From forced labor in local or national public work projects, military operations, and economically important sectors, or as part of government-funded projects or missions abroad, officials use their power to exploit their nationals. In my case, being a person of color sold by a white person to other white people was painful on multiple levels. Proactive partnerships between governments, financial institutions, law enforcement, civil society, and survivor experts are critical to identifying illicit financial activity associated with human trafficking. This has been seen through other crisis situations, such as the Darfur Genocide in 2003, the emergence of Boko Haram in Nigeria in 2009, the Philippines Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014, the emergence of the migrant crisis in Europe in 2015, and the Rohingya exodus in Burma in 2017, to name a few. the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. A force of nature, she has prioritized achieving systemic change through grassroots action and effective networking. To request a hard copy of the 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report, please email TIPOutreach@state.gov and provide your mailing address. Cameroon has laws and regulations that prohibit the recruitment and use of child soldiers and the government generally enforces these provisions. The waiver for PKO assistance, used in assisting efforts to form broad-based, multi-clan Somali security forces, will also support this goal. Sister Imelda Pooles leadership in the fight against human trafficking extends far beyond her own work to inspire others. Papua New Guinea Adrienne Sgarlato In the past year, theMWLteamhas fervently worked to reduce the vulnerability of individuals and families in Albania affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to human trafficking. In addition to addressing immediate needs by providing food, water, and sanitary facilities, a child-friendly space should address longer-term needs through the provision of medical screening and services, psychosocial counseling, referrals, and information about legal proceedings. In La Mesa, 122 missing persons were reported in 2020. If you think you know the whereabouts of any person, BEFORE TAKING ANY ACTION, please contact the law enforcement agency listed in the record, or the California Department of Justice using the toll-free hotline: 1-800-222-FIND (1-800-222-3463) or contact us by email. David, thanks for your comment. Somalia The Houthi rebels gave the boys weapons and forced them to fight and guard checkpoints. Rachel Fox Smothermon The Department of State further assesses that the most durable solution to the unlawful recruitment and use of child soldiers will be a negotiated political settlement that ends Libyas current conflict. Resources for these organizations are often already strained and should be directed towards evidence-based solutions to combat human trafficking. Shakhnoza Khassanova is the director of the Legal Center for Womens Initiatives, Sana Sezim. She has more than a decade of impressive experience raising awareness about human trafficking, advocating for greater victim protections, and aiding migrants and victims of human trafficking from across Central Asia. 17 West Main Street. Mohammed al-Obaidly is one of the most important Qatari figures advocating for labor and human trafficking reforms in Qatar. The government provided Aarav and the other victims support in the aftermath of the raid. Systemic discrimination creates inequities between communities, whether the discrimination targets perceptions of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, or any other social identities. Traffickers often use fraudulent, psychologically manipulative, or coercive recruitment methods so they need not kidnap or even physically restrain their victims. The introduction also illustrates collaborative ways to reimagine anti-trafficking efforts with an emphasis on preparedness to prevent compounding effects of future crises on trafficking victims and vulnerable individuals, as well as efforts to combat the most recent emerging human trafficking trends. While U.S. efforts to combat human trafficking have grown in magnitude and sophistication over the years, the United States still struggles with how to address the disparate effects of human trafficking on racial minority communities. The integration of a victim-centered approach into system-wide efforts on sexual exploitation and abuse, including risks to beneficiaries and others associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, was strengthened in 2020. This one is sort of relevant today, 9/6, given the false news report which went viral earlier which denigrated Ivermectin and claimed that an ER in Oklahoma was full of patients who were damaged by overdosing on horse Ivermectin, and that some patients were even experiencing loss of vision. The value of collaboration between anti-trafficking actors. For the purpose of the CSPA, and generally consistent with the provisions of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, the term child soldier means: i. any person under 18 years of age who takes a direct part in hostilities as a member of governmental armed forces, police, or other security forces; ii. Senegal The Embassy will press the Nigerian government to improve the education of its armed forces on the laws and policy against the unlawful recruitment and use of child soldiers and to pay particular attention to remote outposts where such incidents are more likely to occur. To see more information on each missing person, click on More Info. Estonia Syria Additionally, the military continued to rely on local communities to source labor and supplies, thereby perpetuating conditions enabling the forced labor of adults and children. Shonnie R. Ball Masks and other personal protective equipment, as well as virtual engagements, reduce the ability to read facial and non-verbal cues and body language, which can be a survival mechanism for survivors. 2551 (XL-O/10), Department of Public Security and Department against Transnational Organized Crime, The OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector(2017), OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade, OSCE Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings (2003), Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Trafficking in Human Beings, Regional Conference on Migration Plan of Action (updated in 2009), The Liaison Officers Network to Combat Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons, SADC Strategic Plan of Action on Combating Trafficking in Persons, especially women and Children (2009-2019), Economic Community of West African States, European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, Council of Europes Group of Experts on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, International Criminal Police Organization, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime.