The Maldives Warranted an Improved Ranking in the U.S. Department of State’s 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report
The Maldives has been upgraded to Tier 2 in the U.S. Department of State's 21st annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, released by the U.S. Secretary of State on Thursday tonight.
This upgrade comes after the Maldives remained on the Tier 2 Watch List for three consecutive years. It is a clear demonstration of the progress attained by the Government of Maldives in its fight against human trafficking.
The 2021 TIP Report, in particular, highlighted the accelerated efforts of the Government of Maldives to increase its anti-trafficking capacity despite the adverse implications posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. These efforts include the strengthened implementation of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Action Plan, along with the timely establishment of the Office of Anti-Human Trafficking (ATO). The Report also commended the amendment made to Article 16(b) of the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act (PHTA), adding revisions to align the human trafficking definition with that of the 2000 UN TIP Protocol. The Government was further credited for elevating the role of law enforcement authorities to better address human trafficking cases and for the measures undertaken to support and protect the trafficking of victims. The Government of Maldives is committed to making tangible improvements to its anti-trafficking efforts especially within the key areas identified in the TIP Report. The Government also seeks to enhance cooperation with its international partners to resolve the challenges faced in eliminating the complex crime of human trafficking, at all fronts.
The TIP Report is an annual assessment issued by the U.S. Department of State to monitor and combat human trafficking worldwide. It ranks states into tiers based on the state's compliance with standards outlined in the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) 2000. The goal of this report is to stimulate action and create partnerships around the world in the fight against trafficking in persons.