International Justice Mission Welcomes the Release of TIP Report, Calls on Congress to Protect Anti-Slavery Programs

International Justice Mission (IJM) welcomes the release of the 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report) by the U.S. Department of State. The annual report, produced by Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP Office), ranks 187 countries in tiers that reflect their degree of government will and capacity to deter and reduce trafficking and slavery. The Report is an invaluable diplomatic tool for the U.S. government in deterring and reducing trafficking and slavery around the world.

“The United States is committed to ending all forms of human trafficking, and one of the strongest indications of our commitment is the report we are launching today – for the 20th year in a row,” said John Cotton Richmond, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

There are an estimated 40 million people living in modern slavery today. The TIP Report’s identification of gaps in existing anti-trafficking programming and recommendations for improvement have helped accelerate progress in many of the countries where IJM has collaborated with local officials to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of slavery and trafficking.

Congress, the Administration and the State Department should continue to prioritize the integrity of the TIP rankings and rely on the experts within the TIP Office to drive the content of the Report. Politicization of the process may inflate or deflate the rankings in a way that weakens the use of the TIP Report as a diplomatic tool, therefore, rankings must be grounded in the factual analysis of a country’s anti-trafficking policy and enforcement.

“The staff of the TIP Office are essential leaders in the fight against trafficking and slavery around the world,” said Nate King, National Director of Advocacy and Mobilization at IJM. “IJM commends the diligent work on this year’s report and other ongoing efforts to combat trafficking, including a strong international grants program and the innovative Program to End Modern Slavery (PEMS). We urge Congress to ensure the TIP Office and all of its programs receive robust funding in the Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations bill.”

About International Justice Mission:

International Justice Mission is a global organization that protects people in poverty from violence. IJM partners with local authorities in 19 program offices in 11 countries to combat slavery, violence against women and children, and other forms of abuse against people who are poor. IJM works to rescue and restore victims, hold perpetrators accountable, and help strengthen public justice systems. Learn more at IJM.org.

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