The United States has declared China and Russia among the worst countries in fighting human trafficking, a designation that could lead to sanctions against both nations.
In its annual report on human trafficking released Wednesday, the U.S. State Department downgraded China and Russia, along with Uzbekistan, to the lowest possible U.S. rating, known as Tier Three.
Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Sudan and Zimbabwe are the other Tier Three countries.
In the report, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States has a moral obligation to meet the challenge of ending human trafficking. He called the practice an assault on freedom and basic human dignity.
The U.S. estimates that 27 million people remain enslaved around the world.
The report described China as a “source, transit and destination country” for men, women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. It also said the Chinese government’s one-child policy has resulted in a ratio of 118 boys to 100 girls, creating a demand for the trafficking of foreign women as brides and for forced prostitution.
On Russia, the report said an estimated 1 million people are exposed to “exploitative” labor conditions characteristic of trafficking cases, such as non-payment for services, physical abuse and very poor living conditions.
Uzbekistan was downgraded because of its state-sanctioned use of forced labor in its annual cotton harvest.
U.S. President Barack Obama will determine by September whether to order sanctions against China, Russia and Uzbekistan.
China may not be the worse country in trafficking abuse but they are close to it. China is encouraging the kidnapping and selling of young women to rural farmers. They look the other way and, if the victim escapes China is 40 times more likely to return her to the abusive fake husband and/or put her in jail the abusive farmer. Although there are laws, China almost always refused to punish the abusive fake husband that illegally purchased her.
Also China seldom punishes the traffickers. For example, in one village over a period of time three young women escaped and accused and pointed out the trafficker and in each case the local police claimed there was insufficient evidence. Occasionally, China will make a mass arrest of traffickers. However, that is just for show because don't punish them except for small fines. For example, a trafficker sold a young woman for almost 30,000 RMB (about $5,000) and had to pay restitution to the family of only 1,000 RMB.
And what exactly will these sanctions consist of? I agree that something should be done in this matter, but what power do the US really hold over China and Russia?
It's just stupid for civilians of one country to kill civilians of another country when it's only the 2 countries' governments that are having the silly political catfights.
What power do the US have over them? Sadly, I don't think external powers can do anything about these problems….
yeah we can criticize all we want….but the truth is we can't actually do anything about it. we're talking about 2 major powers here
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