Friday, December 08, 2006

LEGISLATION CRITICAL TO STOP TAIWAN'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING: U.S.

Taipei, Dec. 8 (CNA) Anti-trafficking legislation is desperately needed if Taiwan is to prevent its human trafficking problem from worsening, Taiwan and U.S. officials said Friday in a video conference.

Taiwan was listed on the Tier 2 Watch List in the 2006 U.S. Trafficking in People Report published in June, primarily because it failed to show increased efforts in fighting trafficking during the past year, said James Husky, chief of the political section at the American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office.

Human trafficking is seen as the modern-day slavery, which is very different from slavery in the past, said Washington-based John Miller, Director of U.S. State Department's Office of Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP) , in the conference that gathered public prosecutors, officials and law enforcers from Taipei and Kaohsiung.

About 800,000 people are trafficked across national borders each year, which does not count millions trafficked within their own countries, said Miller, whose office coordinates the U.S. efforts in the global fight against modern-day slavery, including forced labor and sex exploitation.

Being listed on the Tier 2 Watch List means Taiwan does not comply with the minimum standards and requires special scrutiny because of a high or significantly increasing number of victims and a failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking.

Miller said the "Three Ps" principle -- prevention, protection and prosecution -- should be used when dealing with trafficking issues.

The national action plan to fight trafficking, which was initiated by the Executive Yuan, was a great first step for Taiwan, said Mark Taylor, Senior Coordinator for Reports of G/TIP.

Legislation makes sure the traffickers will be punished, but the implementation of the law is equally important as well, Taylor noted.

Public prosecutors and officials from Taipei and Kaohsiung mentioned the difficulties under the current system to define trafficking cases and identify victims.

"If a person ends up losing his freedom, it's a trafficking case, "Miller said, adding that government agencies should also work with non-government organizations.