Press Releases

U.S. Embassy Statement on the 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report

June 6, 2006

On Monday, June 5, 2006, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice released the sixth annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report in a public event at the State Department’s Press Briefing Room in Washington, D.C.  This 150-country report is the most comprehensive worldwide report on the efforts of governments to combat “severe forms of trafficking in persons.”   The annual Trafficking in Persons Report serves as the primary diplomatic tool through which the U.S. Government encourages partnership and increased determination in the fight against forced labor, sexual exploitation, and modern-day slavery.
   
In the 2006 report, the rating for the Republic of Mauritius has improved to Tier 2, which is defined as countries not fully complying with minimum standards of the 2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Act, but making significant efforts to meet these standards.  This elevates Mauritius from the Tier Two Watch List.  As stated in the report, the scope of the trafficking problem in Mauritius is limited to child prostitution.  The improved tier rating is a result of the following anti-trafficking efforts implemented by the Government of Mauritius: passage of the 2005 Child Protection Bill which contained comprehensive anti-child trafficking provisions; additional police training and resources in detecting and responding to instances of trafficking in persons; and public awareness-raising efforts on the dangers of engaging in prostitution. 

The U.S. urges continued progress by Mauritius in the area of law enforcement, particularly in arresting, prosecuting and convicting perpetrators of child prostitution as well as the passage of comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation.  The Government of the United States looks forward to working with the government of Mauritius to support its ongoing anti-trafficking efforts.  Working in cooperation with governments and its citizens around the world, The United States and the American people look forward to the day when all people may be free from these contemporary forms of human servitude and exploitation.

The entire Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP) is available via the following Internet URL:  www.state.gov/g/tip