(27 Jul 2015) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus035370
US Secretary of State John Kerry unveiled the annual Trafficking in Persons Report on Monday as part of the ongoing assessment of how 188 governments around the world have performed in fighting the flesh trade and other forms of exploitative labor.
Kerry called the report and the State Department's efforts in combating trafficking a 'battle against evil' calling for the global community to tackle the trade head on in business and online sectors.
The State Department has taken Malaysia and Cuba off its blacklist of countries failing to combat modern-day slavery, leaving the U.S. open to criticism that politics is swaying the often-contentious rankings in its annual human trafficking report.
Critics contend that Malaysia's upgrade is related to its participation in a U.S.-backed trade agreement among Pacific Rim countries.
Thailand is not part of the proposed agreement.
Cuba has for several years been stuck on the lowest ranking, "tier 3," amid allegations, denied by Havana, of coerced labor with Cuban government work missions abroad.
The department said Monday Cuba has for the second consecutive year reported efforts to address sex trafficking but has not reported efforts to tackle forced labor.
The Trafficking in Persons Report is one of several annual assessments issued by the department on human rights-related topics, but it's unusual in that it ranks nations, which can ruffle diplomatic feathers.
It is based on the actions governments take, rather than on the scale of the problem in their countries. Globally, more than 20 million people are believed to be affected in industries such as mining, construction, the sex trade, and domestic service.
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