What can be done to stop Russia and China from destroying human dignity?
Human trafficking is a deplorable activity that stains any fully developed nation. Yet, the practice continues to exist in alarming numbers in over 21 countries.
According to a Global Affairs report published Wednesday, the State Department, which publishes a report every year since 2000 called “Trafficking in Persons”, has downgraded Russia and China to the lowest rank possible for decades of failure to improve their human rights record by allowing sex slavery to thrive.
The disgraceful status puts the two countries in “the same category as a rogues' gallery of 21 nations including Iran, Syria and North Korea.”
Secretary of State John Kerry’s statement (in part):
Ending modern slavery must remain a foreign policy priority. Fighting this crime wherever it exists is in our national interest. Human trafficking undermines the rule of law and creates instability. It tears apart families and communities. It damages the environment and corrupts the global supply chains and labor markets that keep the world’s economies thriving.
The critical report on trafficking was released at the conclusion of a three-day tension-filled G-8 summit, where President Obama met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss several issues, which resulted in some agreements, but differences remained on the US decision to send military aid to Syria.
In addition, the New York Times reported on President Obama's recent meeting with the new president of China, Xi Jinping in California for a two day getting-acquainted meeting. Renewed tensions with China over cyber-hacking have surfaced to complicate the relationship.
Russia and China have been on the US “watch list” for a long time, but the two countries have avoided a “diplomatic black eye”, due to their repeated commitment to make labor and sex trafficking abuses a priority for enforcement without actually making progress to do so. A 2008 change put time limits on compliance, so the two countries will no longer be allowed to slide by on their claims alone.
The sponsor of the 2000 reporting law, Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) calls China the “sex and labor trafficking capital of the world.” And claims the problem stems directly from the “barbaric” one-child law for each family that also results in untold numbers of forced abortions, as the government looks the other way. Girls are far less valued than boys and are often seen as commodities to be sold into lucrative brothels and prostitution rings, even by their parents.
Moreover, girls are lured away from rural areas of China, Russia and other countries with phony job offers and promises to raise them out of poverty, only to become victims of mofia-style prostitution businesses run by ruthless thugs, which bring in millions of dollars
The report could result in US sanctions against China and Russia, but will it take such action against two of the most powerful countries in the world? The report is a good start, but moves by the Obama administration to force compliance remains to be seen.
National Geographic will run a special on the extent of the problem entitled 21st Century Sex Slaves, which will air on July 12.
***
Jean Williams, environmental and political journalist; PrairieDogPress writer; Artistic Director, Keystone Prairie Dogs.***PrairieDogPress is the media channel for keystone-prairie-dogs.com, which is a fundraising website to support environmental groups for extraordinary efforts to protect Great Plains habitat and prairie dogs in the wild. PDP uses humorous images, social commentary and serious-minded political reports to challenge government on numerous levels, including accountability to the people, the protection of threatened species, the environment and Earth’s natural resources.
According to a Global Affairs report published Wednesday, the State Department, which publishes a report every year since 2000 called “Trafficking in Persons”, has downgraded Russia and China to the lowest rank possible for decades of failure to improve their human rights record by allowing sex slavery to thrive.
The disgraceful status puts the two countries in “the same category as a rogues' gallery of 21 nations including Iran, Syria and North Korea.”
Secretary of State John Kerry’s statement (in part):
Ending modern slavery must remain a foreign policy priority. Fighting this crime wherever it exists is in our national interest. Human trafficking undermines the rule of law and creates instability. It tears apart families and communities. It damages the environment and corrupts the global supply chains and labor markets that keep the world’s economies thriving.
The critical report on trafficking was released at the conclusion of a three-day tension-filled G-8 summit, where President Obama met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss several issues, which resulted in some agreements, but differences remained on the US decision to send military aid to Syria.
In addition, the New York Times reported on President Obama's recent meeting with the new president of China, Xi Jinping in California for a two day getting-acquainted meeting. Renewed tensions with China over cyber-hacking have surfaced to complicate the relationship.
Russia and China have been on the US “watch list” for a long time, but the two countries have avoided a “diplomatic black eye”, due to their repeated commitment to make labor and sex trafficking abuses a priority for enforcement without actually making progress to do so. A 2008 change put time limits on compliance, so the two countries will no longer be allowed to slide by on their claims alone.
The sponsor of the 2000 reporting law, Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) calls China the “sex and labor trafficking capital of the world.” And claims the problem stems directly from the “barbaric” one-child law for each family that also results in untold numbers of forced abortions, as the government looks the other way. Girls are far less valued than boys and are often seen as commodities to be sold into lucrative brothels and prostitution rings, even by their parents.
Moreover, girls are lured away from rural areas of China, Russia and other countries with phony job offers and promises to raise them out of poverty, only to become victims of mofia-style prostitution businesses run by ruthless thugs, which bring in millions of dollars
The report could result in US sanctions against China and Russia, but will it take such action against two of the most powerful countries in the world? The report is a good start, but moves by the Obama administration to force compliance remains to be seen.
National Geographic will run a special on the extent of the problem entitled 21st Century Sex Slaves, which will air on July 12.
***
Jean Williams, environmental and political journalist; PrairieDogPress writer; Artistic Director, Keystone Prairie Dogs.***PrairieDogPress is the media channel for keystone-prairie-dogs.com, which is a fundraising website to support environmental groups for extraordinary efforts to protect Great Plains habitat and prairie dogs in the wild. PDP uses humorous images, social commentary and serious-minded political reports to challenge government on numerous levels, including accountability to the people, the protection of threatened species, the environment and Earth’s natural resources.
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