The ROC government received top marks for its efforts to eliminate human trafficking in the U.S. State Department’s latest Trafficking in Persons Report, according to Interior Minister Jiang Yi-huah June 28.
“Vigorous enforcement of human rights, as mandated by the Human Trafficking Prevention Act, saw Taiwan placed in the report’s highest Tier 1 category for the second consecutive year,” Jiang said. “Cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior, Council of Labor Affairs and Ministry of Justice also contributed to this encouraging result.”
According to the annual report, 32 out of 184 surveyed countries rated Tier 1, with Taiwan and South Korea the only Asian nations to earn this classification.
Tier 1 countries, according to the U.S. State Department, have acknowledged the existence of human trafficking, made efforts to address the problem, and comply with the minimum standards of the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. Each year, these countries need to demonstrate appreciable progress in combating trafficking to maintain this ranking.
“During the reporting period, Taiwan authorities continued to prosecute and punish trafficking offenses, including both forced labor and forced prostitution. In addition, the government sustained strong victim protection efforts, continued to train law enforcement and other government officials, and raised public awareness on trafficking offenses,” the report stated.
The report recommended Taiwan extend labor protection to all categories of workers, including those in the domestic service sector and caregivers, continue to train law enforcement officials, prosecutors and judges, and maintain efforts to investigate, prosecute and convict offenders.
“Taiwan will keep working to combat human trafficking and safeguarding human rights,” Jiang said. “We remain committed to fulfilling the spirit of the two U.N covenants on human rights protection.”
The U.N. international covenants on Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights were incorporated into ROC law by President Ma Ying-jeou in May 2009.
Write to Elaine Hou at elainehou@mail.gio.gov.tw