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Taiwan receives top marks in anti-human trafficking

Taiwan’s efforts in combating human trafficking saw it classified in the Tier 1 category in the latest U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report. (Courtesy of National Immigration Agency)

• Publication Date：06/20/2012
• Source： Taiwan Today
• By  Grace Kuo

Taiwan has been placed in the Tier 1 category in the U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report for the third consecutive year, indicating that the nation’s anti-human trafficking efforts have received world recognition, according to the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs June 20.

“Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan are the only four nations in the Asia-Pacific region ranked as Tier 1 in the latest trafficking report,” MOFA said.

According to the report, “Tier 1 is the highest ranking, [indicating] a government has acknowledged the existence of human trafficking, has made efforts to address the problem, and meets the [Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000’s] minimum standards.

“During the reporting period, Taiwan authorities continued to prosecute and punish trafficking offenses, including both forced labor and forced prostitution. In addition, the authorities continued improving victim protection efforts, trained law enforcement and other government officials, and raised public awareness on trafficking offenses,” the report stated.

MOFA stressed that “to uphold human rights and protect the public interest, in May 2009 Taiwan incorporated into its laws the U.N. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the U.N. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. In January 2009, the Legislative Yuan also passed the Human Trafficking Prevention and Control Act, which was implemented in June of that year.”

In addition, to strengthen the protection of children and women, foreign laborers and new immigrants against human trafficking, Taiwan has cooperated with nongovernmental organizations at home and abroad, and made a serious effort to establish protection and counseling mechanisms for victims, MOFA noted.

“We will continue to work with other local government agencies, the private sector and the world in combating human trafficking and strengthening relevant collaborative mechanisms,” MOFA said. (HZW)

Write to Grace Kuo at mlkuo@mofa.gov.tw