Press Release

Release of the 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report

On June 16, 2008, U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, released the ninth annual Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report. 

This 175-country report is the most comprehensive worldwide report on the efforts of governments to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons, a modern-day form of slavery.  Its findings are intended to raise global awareness and spur countries to take effective actions to counter trafficking in persons.  The assessment includes narratives on 173 countries determined to have victims of severe forms of human trafficking and two designated as special cases.

The United States estimates that each year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked all over the world.  Human trafficking victims can be subjected to labor exploitation or sexual exploitation, or both.  These forms of modern-day slavery can happen in an individual's own country, and are often the results of cultural attitudes and traditions as well as economic
challenges.

This year's Report includes a particular focus on the effects of the global economic crisis on the supply and demand of human trafficking.  Modern-day slavery continues to be a problem in nearly every country in the world and traffickers continue to search for new opportunities to exploit men, women, and children.  The full text of the Report and photos of human trafficking themes are available on the State Department's Web site at: http://www.state.gov/g/tip

For more information, please contact Public Affairs Officer, Ray Castillo, at 0811280816, or Information Specialist, Roger Lyners, at 229801 (ext. 226).