For the 14th year in a row, Taiwan has been assessed at Tier 1 in the U.S. Department of State 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report, reflecting global recognition of government efforts to protect human rights, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
Taiwan is one of only four countries in the Asia-Pacific listed as Tier 1, standing beside Australia, Singapore and the Philippines, the MOI said. Regional neighbors Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong are listed in Tier 2, while China is in Tier 3.
According to the report, released June 15, Taiwan fully meets the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic impacted anti-trafficking capacity in some respects, the report’s analysts recognized authorities’ serious and sustained efforts toward the goal.
The TIP report highlights several government measures that strengthen protections and prevent trafficking, including investigating and prosecuting more traffickers, increasing international law enforcement cooperation on related crimes, and identifying more victims of forced labor in cyber scam operations and repatriating them.
The MOI responded to the report’s prioritized recommendations by pointing out the measures that have already been put in place with respect to forced labor in the fishing and caretaker industries, as well as the recruitment of overseas workers. In particular, the MOI said the 2023-2024 Anti-Exploitation Action Plan, which consists of 19 issues and 81 specific measures, was unveiled in April this year to address such labor rights violations.
The ministry added that it will continue to integrate resources and work with partners at home and abroad to combat human trafficking and promote human rights protection. (SFC-E)
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