2007 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT

This year, 39 countries are on the Special Watch List. These countries either (1) had moved up a tier in the 2006 TIP Report over the last year's Report, or (2) were ranked on Tier 2 in the 2006 TIP Report, but (a) had failed to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat TIP from the previous year, (b) were placed on Tier 2 because of commitments to carry out additional future actions over the coming year, or (c) had a significant or significantly increasing number of trafficking victims. Thirty-four of the 39 countries on the Special Watch List are in the second category--ranked as Tier 2 Watch List--including two countries initially ranked as Tier 3 in the June 2006 TIP Report, but reassessed as Tier 2 Watch List countries by the State Department in September 2006 (Belize and Laos). Attached to this Interim Assessment is an overview of the tier process.

In most cases, the Interim Assessment is intended to serve as a tool by which to gauge the anti trafficking progress of countries which may be in danger of slipping a tier in the upcoming June 2007 TIP Report and to give them guidance on how to avoid a Tier 3 ranking. It is a tightly focused progress report, assessing the concrete actions a government has taken to address the key deficiencies highlighted in the June 2006 TIP Report. The Interim Assessment covers actions undertaken between the beginning of May--the cutoff for data covered in the June TIP Report--and November. Readers are requested to refer back to the annual TIP Report for an analysis of large scale efforts and a description of the trafficking problem in each particular country.

Laos

The Government of Laos made modest progress in combating trafficking in persons since the release of the 2006 Report. The Lao Women's Union (LWU), with the assistance of UNICEF, disseminated information on the law throughout the country among citizens and government officials. The Lao Women's Union in mid-2006 conducted trafficking-related training for governors, vice governors, prosecutors, police commanders, presidents, and vice presidents of provincial courts across the country. In addition, the LWU held separate seminars for police officers on trafficking legislation and victim protection in several provinces. The government in July 2006 provided immigration officers with training intended to end the practice of fining, taxing, or otherwise confiscating money from returning migrants and trafficking victims.

The Lao Anti-People's Trafficking Unit arrested a woman in August 2006 and charged her with trafficking, and in late October authorities arrested a group of three people that were subsequently charged with human trafficking. Laos did not provide any information regarding efforts to combat trafficking-related corruption through increased criminal investigations or prosecution of officials involved in trafficking.

2007 Trafficking in Persons Report |full Report|