Opening Remarks
Knesset Meeting to Discuss the U.S. State Department’s
2007 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report
November 19, 2007

It is an honor to be here today to discuss the State Department’s 2007 Trafficking in Persons Report.  I want to start by thanking Knesset leaders for their commitment to combating trafficking in all its forms. 

Trafficking in persons is a human tragedy that affects us all.  President Bush is personally deeply committed to the fight against trafficking in persons, which he has called it “an offense against human dignity.”  We must all do what we can to stop it.  I can assure you that combating trafficking in persons is one of the U.S. Government’s highest priorities.  In FY 2006, we supported 154 international anti-trafficking programs benefiting 70 countries, including Israel.  Since FY 2001, the U.S. government has funded more than $448 million to fight a problem in which an estimated 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year.  Some 80 percent of that total is female, and up to half are minors. 

Secretary of State Rice has noted a “greater desire by our partners to fight this crime and protect its victims.”  The United States, she said, is helping to lead a global movement, not just to confront this crime, but to abolish it.  More and more countries are coming to see human trafficking for what it is:  a modern-day form of slavery that devastates families and communities around the world.

Over the past several years, we have developed and pursued a determined diplomatic strategy to encourage other governments to join the fight against human trafficking.  As part of that strategy, designed by Congress in 2000, the State Department releases an annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report to expose the problem in each country.   The seventh annual TIP Report documents efforts by foreign governments to prevent human trafficking, prosecute criminals, and protect their victims.  Remember these three “P’s”:  prevent, prosecute and protect.  They are all critical to the successful eradication of trafficking.  The report probes even the darkest places, calling to account any country, friend or foe, that could and should be doing more to combat human trafficking.

The TIP Report classifies each country as Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 2 Watch List or Tier 3.  As in any race, first place (Tier 1) is where you want to end up.  Extensive analysis based on criteria laid out by Congress goes into the classification of each country, and our sources of information for the report include U.S. Embassies, NGOs worldwide, foreign law enforcement officers and visits by staff members of Congressional committees and Department of State officials. 

This year’s report contains good news and bad news.  Although 16 countries were listed as Tier 3, an increase of 7 from the previous year, 10 governments which had been listed as Tier 2 Watch List have moved up to Tier 2.  One of those countries, I am happy to report, is Israel.  All told, 21 countries passed new legislation against trafficking in persons between March 2006 and March 2007.  Georgia, Hungary and Slovenia made enough progress to gain Tier 1 status.  Brazil and Indonesia mounted aggressive anti-trafficking in persons programs, thanks in part to American diplomatic engagement with their governments.

I’m sure the question on everyone’s mind is:  “What can Israel can do to be placed in Tier 1?”  Placement is based more on the extent of government action to combat trafficking, rather than the size of the problem, important though that is.  The Department first evaluates whether the government fully complies with Congress’ minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. Governments that do fully comply are placed in Tier 1. For other governments, the Department considers whether they are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance. Governments that are making significant efforts to meet the minimum standards are placed in Tier 2. The Tier placements are a summary of country’s combined efforts against all forms of trafficking.  While Israel has made significant progress in the fight against trafficking, there are still many steps that can and should be taken to continue this battle. 

Remember the 3 P’s?  Well, prevention efforts in Israel are relatively modest – limited to brochures – albeit in multiple languages.  Protection of labor trafficking victims needs to be strengthened and the ratio of prosecutions to investigations for all forms of trafficking in persons should be increased.  Too few traffickers are being put behind bars.  The terms of those who are convicted are often too short.

The fight against trafficking in people requires cooperation from all corners of society.  From the police, to immigration officials, to the Knesset to the Prime Minister’s Office and cabinet, Israel has taken significant steps in recent years to improve intra-governmental communication and collaboration.  The relevant Ministries, law enforcement authorities and the NGO community will need to continue and strengthen this cooperation in the years to come if we are to achieve our common purpose – to end the tragedy and horror of human trafficking.  We can be sure that the traffickers will not give up their lucrative trade without a fight.  Their cooperation spans continents; learning to cooperate within a single country would seem the least we can do to defeat them.

The Israeli Government deserves recognition for the progress it has made on this issue.  In June 2006, Rachel Gershoni was appointed as the official anti-trafficking coordinator for all Israeli government agencies.  The Government could not have made a better choice.  Her commitment to ending trafficking in Israel has won the respect and admiration of all of us.  Rachel, thank you for your dedication and hard work combating human trafficking; Israel is truly a safer, more open society as a direct result of your efforts.

Another step which helped elevate Israel from Tier 2 Watch List to Tier 2 this year came in October 2006, when the Knesset expanded Israel’s legal definition of trafficking to include labor trafficking.  We applaud this commitment to ending the trade in human beings, and I would especially like to thank MKs Ben Sasson, Zehava Gal-On and Ran Cohen for their efforts in enacting this legislation.

In many countries, the biggest trafficking in persons challenge is to control trafficking in women for sexual purposes.  This was true in Israel too.  Fortunately, Israel has made real strides confronting and combating the trafficking of women for sexual exploitation.  First, attitudes toward trafficking in women were changed, thanks to many recent legislative reforms, public and private initiatives, and growing media attention.  Recently, Israeli authorities have been prosecuting an increasing number of sex traffickers, and providing victims with shelter and protective services.  We need to sustain this progress, even while we work to change attitudes and policy toward other forms of trafficking common in Israel, such as labor trafficking.   

As its economy has grown over the past few years, Israel has become a destination country for low-skilled foreign workers who are particularly vulnerable to traffickers and coercive conditions of labor.  Reports have surfaced of foreign migrant workers subjected to involuntary servitude that defies the democratic principles of this country.  Workers arrive in this country expecting to start a new life, and instead find themselves saddled with unimaginable debt.

The new trafficking law enacted last October is a good first step in fighting this problem; but it’s just a first step.

The next step is to provide those on the front lines of this struggle the support – in staffing, funding, and training – required to implement these strong new laws and national plans that the Government has passed.  I encourage all of you here today to work within your Ministry, office or NGO to help Israel in this battle; you know what needs to be done, and it is up to you to convince the decision-makers to take the difficult steps that are so very necessary.  In Israel, trafficking is also a question of national security – once established, trafficking networks can be used to smuggle anything or anyone, from drugs, arms and explosives, to the terrorists who would use them.

The United States remains steadfastly committed to Israel’s security, both internal and external.  Trafficking is a threat to the security of every Israeli citizen.  Protecting those populations at risk from becoming trafficking victims today is an important part of preventing the general population from becoming victims.

I want to thank Hila and everyone here for their hard work each year in preparing Israel’s responses to our TIP Report questions.  Next year I hope to be able to stand in front of you to announce that Israel has been elevated to Tier 1 status.  It will take a lot of effort, but it is certainly an effort worth making.    

As Secretary Rice has said, “defeating human trafficking is a great moral calling of our day.” Together with our allies and friends, we will continue our efforts to bring this cruel practice to an end. Together we can make a difference, and together we can build a safer, freer, and more prosperous world for all.

Thank you.