{"id":7747,"date":"2023-06-21T08:27:02","date_gmt":"2023-06-20T20:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.childrescue.org.nz\/?p=7747"},"modified":"2024-07-25T07:58:39","modified_gmt":"2024-07-24T19:58:39","slug":"tip-ratings-explained-a-nations-response-to-the-horror-of-trafficking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.childrescue.org.nz\/blog\/tip-ratings-explained-a-nations-response-to-the-horror-of-trafficking\/","title":{"rendered":"TIP Ratings Explained: A Nation’s Response to the Horror of Trafficking"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Updated July 2024<\/h5>\n

Earlier this summer, the Secretary of State released the latest iteration of the <\/span>annual TIP report<\/span><\/a>. This document is a wealth of information for any involved in the fight against human trafficking, packed with meticulously-researched data and insightful discussions from survivors.<\/span><\/p>\n

And beyond simple information, there\u2019s a rating system that can cost countries millions of dollars if their efforts to combat human trafficking don\u2019t meet the rating system\u2019s standards.<\/span><\/p>\n

But what is the TIP report, and why do the ratings matter?<\/span><\/p>\n

Facing a new problem<\/span><\/h2>\n

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the resulting humanitarian crisis drove world leaders to take action. Millions of people were displaced, hunger was rampant, and leaders were forced to take a closer look at international crime.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Remnants of the Soviet Union can still be seen across Russia today, such as the sickle and hammer (symbol of the revolution) on this dilapidated building<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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The resultant surge in crime that crossed national boundaries led the United Nations to adopt what became known as the \u201cPalermo Protocol\u201d in 2000. This new resolution specifically targeted transnational crime, including human trafficking. That same year, <\/span>the U.S. passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA)<\/span><\/a> to develop guidelines and procedures against commercial human trafficking. The TVPA was the first-ever comprehensive law to take on human trafficking. Besides offering protections and grants to victims, the TVPA set a gold standard, a three-pronged approach to eradicating human trafficking at every level: prevention, protection and prosecution.<\/span><\/p>\n

What does TIP stand for?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The TVPA needed a system to understand the human trafficking situations around the world and a way to categorize each government\u2019s efforts to combat the problem. To that end, each year, the Secretary of State is required to release the annual <\/span>Trafficking in Persons<\/span><\/i> (TIP) report<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The annual TIP report is the result of months of exhaustive investigation into nations all across the globe. This document is an unparalleled exploration of what specific trafficking problems each country faces. Aside from the international ranking system, the TIP report is an invaluable, information-rich tool for nonprofits and concerned citizens who want to understand the problem better.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, this year\u2019s report specifically discussed the role of technology in human trafficking on both sides of the problem. Traffickers have incorporated various technologies into their reprehensible trade and are using the internet to broaden both their audience and victim bases. In response, the TIP report called on governments and tech leaders to bolster their protections for vulnerable populations and discussed ways NGOs are incorporating technologies to fight human trafficking. Destiny Rescue made huge strides in the OSEC space last year, training police officers in multiple nations and using our cutting-edge Scientia technology suite to rescue over 30 kids from online abuse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Destiny Rescue partnered with law enforcement to arrest this online trafficker<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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Ranking governments instead of citizens<\/span><\/h2>\n

But the TIP report provides more than information: its primary goal is to assess how well governments address exploitation within their borders.<\/span><\/p>\n

Every year, U.S. agents take a deep dive into each government\u2019s efforts (or lack thereof) to combat trafficking in their particular location, investigating the unique problems each nation faces and making recommendations on how they can improve. <\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Children and adults alike are often coerced into trafficking situations with false promises of a better future and then forced into all types of work, including farm labor, manufacturing and domestic servitude<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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That\u2019s where the rating system comes into play. It\u2019s important to remember that TIP Report system <\/span>doesn’t rank the state of human trafficking<\/b> in a particular country. Instead, they rank each nation\u2019s <\/span>response <\/b>to the problem.<\/span><\/p>\n

The three tiers are:<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Tier 1 <\/b>– Nations that achieve this highest level have acknowledged the human trafficking situation in their region and are making active, intentional efforts to address the issue. To make it into the first tier, those efforts must comply with the TVPA\u2019s minimum standards for combating human trafficking.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tier 2 <\/b>– Countries in this category recognize their specific human trafficking challenges and are making efforts to combat them but have yet to make the TVPA minimum standard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tier 3 <\/b>– Tier 3 countries have governments that (a) don\u2019t admit that there\u2019s a problem, (b) aren\u2019t making a concerted effort to fight human trafficking or (c) both. In the most corrupt systems, government officials are complicit in the problem. <\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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An Uphill Battle<\/span><\/h2>\n

Nations that incur a third-tier ranking suffer more than just the international shame of the position. A Tier 3 ranking has serious financial consequences for those governments (outside humanitarian relief, of course), including restricting foreign assistance from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Those penalties and bad optics help encourage corrupt or complacent nations to take serious steps in eradicating the world\u2019s most despicable trade.<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s hard, serious work. Every year, many nations on the TIP report gain or lose rankings based on how they battle trafficking at home. We’re proud of all the countries dedicated to bolstering their fight against this trade.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Thai police during an online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) training with Destiny Rescue <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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You can <\/span>read the 2024 TIP Report here.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like to join our efforts in rescuing <\/span>kids all over the world<\/span>, please consider becoming a Rescue Partner. Your monthly gift could mean the difference between freedom and a life of abuse for a suffering child. Complete the form below to get started.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n