July 2009

Our organization continues to spread the important news that slavery still exists. Over the past two months, 51 people from 11 states and 6 countries have come to our website to learn about modern slavery. Also, several of our readers have been forwarding on the newsletter to their friends. We encourage you to send this email along so that more people will become aware of the atrocities that are happening among us.

As promised, this newsletter will focus on the US government’s policy over the past decade. Before 2000, the US did not have any laws specifically outlawing human trafficking and slavery, and there were not any federal task forces specifically targeting slavery in the United States or abroad. Cases of slavery were occasionally discovered and were prosecuted under a hodgepodge of related laws such as kidnapping and assault. This changed when in 2000 Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, largely through the efforts of now-deceased Senator Paul Wellstone. This act had three main focuses: prevention of future victims, protection of past victims, and prosecution of the traffickers.

The act initiated three main programs. First, it established several federal programs that specifically target human trafficking. Slavery now became a focus of many federal police agencies instead of simply something that they might stumble upon. It also provided training to several of the existing police organizations, including on the state and local level. This training has proved instrumental in capturing and fighting against human trafficking rings.

Secondly, the act established the T-visa, which allows victims to stay in the United States in order to help law enforcement prosecute the criminals. The T-visa is an effective way to protect victims from further abuse in their home countries and helps bring traffickers to justice. In conjunction with the T-visa, victims are offered a variety of services to help them get back on their feet, including counseling and job training. Victims, of course, have the option of returning home if they want.

Finally, the act started the annual Trafficking in Persons Report that is published by the US State Department every year. This report is a way to put political pressure on foreign countries that are not making an effort to combat trafficking within their borders. The rankings are classified into 4 categories. Tier 1 countries are doing everything in their ability to comply with international standards in prevention, protection, and prosecution. Tier 2 countries have some problems with domestic programs but are making significant efforts to rectify the problems. Tier 2 watchlist countries are those that are making a limited effort but are in danger of being placed in Tier 3. Finally, Tier 3 countries are not making a significant effort to combat slavery in their borders. While this list has often been criticized for being politically influenced, it has nevertheless been a useful way to put political pressure on countries to become serious about modern slavery. In fact, many countries have asked for help in developing national policies that effectively combat slavery within their borders.

To learn more about our domestic policy and its influence internationally, feel free to email me at Kelsey@1865continued.org. To read the latest Trafficking in Persons report go to http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2009/. Thank you so much for your concern and support. Never forget that the collective actions of our generation will shape the world for those that follow.

Kelsey Snapp

1865 Continued: The Fight against Modern Slavery

www.1865continued.org