The picture on your right comes from the Trafficking in Persons report for the USA Department of State. This was a report that began to be published the first year of President George W. Bush’s first term in office. Because of the outbreak of war, it was lost that both President and Mrs. Bush (but especially Laura Bush) cared strongly about the subject of human trafficking. Few will remember how often Mrs. Bush tried to bring up her concern about forced sweatshop labor and about sex slaves, a concern in which her husband fully supported her. Sadly, the outbreak of war swamped every effort to give this subject the attention that it deserved. Of course, the outbreak of war swamped almost everything else, and quite understandably so. But, maybe this is a good time to bring up again that concern that the Bush family had, and which has been continued in the annual report.
The image at the right is from the 2011 report. The report gives both visual and written statistics of human trafficking around the world. The picture at right comes from just the North American portion of the report. The legend is rather easy to understand. In Tier 1 nations, human trafficking may exist (think of sex trafficking, sweatshop labor, forced domestic labor, child soldiers, bonded labor, debt bondage among migrant workers, etc.) but the Tier 1 countries have strong laws against trafficking, try to stop the trafficking anytime they get wind of it, and the police and judiciary system are set up to process criminals while helping victims. Tier 2 nations are nations where the laws and/or the enforcement may not be a good as they ought to be, but the country as a whole is making efforts to change the culture and perception so as to allow strong enforcement against human trafficking and strong support for victims. Tier 2 Watch List countries are essentially the same as Tier 2 countries, however, in them there is an existing strong human trafficking component already in existence, the number of victims is unacceptably high, and–frankly–there is some questions as to whether they are changing as fast as they ought.
My personal wording for Tier 3 countries is hell on earth. In those countries, trafficking is strongly present, the number of victims is high, the government does not care, and no serious efforts are being made to either enforce what laws there are or to bring an end to the practice. It should be noted that Tier 3 countries are barred from USA law from participating in any government sponsored exchange program and may have economic sanctions placed on them. Only humanitarian aid, and certain development and trade funds would be open to them.
The USA also evaluates itself as part of the report, collecting data from its police and other agencies, such as the FBI, ICE, etc. Sadly, if you look at the report on the right, you will see that there are several Tier 2 Watch List and Tier 3 nations in the New World. In what was for me stunning, outside of Canada and the USA, only Colombia classifies as a Tier 1 nation. With all the rebel action in Colombia, I had thought that it would be a Tier 2, but then the report does not cover drugs or terrorism, it only covers human trafficking.
Finally, there are various good agencies that are helping to fight human trafficking by providing training, and in some cases orphanages and children’s homes, houses of refuge, etc., in the affected countries. Please check with your group of churches. I have no doubt that you will find that there are already people from your churches involved not only in bringing the Word of God into those situations, but also in bringing the comfort and help of God to provide safe spaces and training for those who have been rescued from human trafficking. It is much easier to believe that God loves you and sent his Son so that you should not perish but have eternal life if that Word is accompanied by some warm human arms embracing you and helping you. Consider becoming involved with some of your group’s ministries to those who are the victims of human trafficking. Someday you will certainly meet some of them when we are with the Lord and our God will look at you and say, “well done good and faithful servant.”
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