On June 27th, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Senior Advisor to the Secretary and Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Luis CdeBaca released the 2011 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. For the fifth year in a row Georgia received a Tier 1 ranking, which means Georgia fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. Georgia has consistently pursued low-cost, innovative methods to assist trafficking victims and prosecuted traffickers. As part of its anti-trafficking efforts, the government supports shelters that provide victim assistance, including medical aid, psychological counseling, and legal assistance.
In order to retain its Tier 1 status, Georgia is recommended to increase efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict both labor and sex trafficking offenders; increase efforts to identify and refer victims for assistance; continue strong funding for victim assistance programs; continue to ensure that victims are not fined or otherwise penalized for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked; maintain and strengthen cross-border cooperation between law enforcement bodies; improve training of consular officers in trafficking destination countries in victims' assistance; continue to proactively screen for victims at border points and increase efforts to identify victims at the border; and focus training efforts on making these officers a more active part of the referral process.
The Department of State is required by law to submit a report each year to the U.S. Congress on foreign governments' efforts to eliminate trafficking in persons. The 184-country report is the most comprehensive worldwide review of government efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons, a modern form of slavery. Its findings are intended to raise global awareness and spur government action against all forms of trafficking in persons. In 2010, under the leadership of the Secretary of State, the TIP Report has also ranked the United States' anti-trafficking efforts.
