Meg's update: 6/21/10: U.S.Mission, Trafficking of Persons

Ms. Nan Kennelly, Deputy Director, Office to Monitor & Combat Trafficking in Persons, U.S. Dept. of State, held a conversation on the tenth anniversary of the (TIP) Report, and of interest, for the first time, the U.S. has evaluated itself in this report. Ms. Kennelly highlighted our government's cooperation with the Global Plan of Action, taken at the GA , 2009, for concerted efforts by Member States on preventing trafficking of persons. 135 countries have signed on to the Palermo Protocol; 116 countries have legislation to punish offenders. This year's report reflects upgrades for 22 countries, and downgrades for 21 countries demonstrating inadequate legal structures. Tiers 1,2,3,4, is a grading system used, minimum standard being one, its opposite being four. Kennelly spoke of areas in which U.S. must improve, social centers where victims can be protected and assisted. Comments from other responses to the report say that there has been little effort by the government to raise awareness and educate its own population about laws against child sex tourism. Americans represent large percentages of the sex tourists traveling abroad to sexually exploit other country's children.