Statement by SASC Chairman John McCain on State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report

Statement

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today on the U.S. Department of State's 2017 Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Report:

"This week, the State Department released its 2017 Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Report, the annual assessment of global efforts to end human trafficking. Despite increased efforts, human trafficking remains a global epidemic with more than 20 million people forced into labor and sexual slavery around the world each year. The United States must do more to eradicate this form of modern slavery once and for all and ensure that fundamental freedoms are afforded to all people. I encourage the State Department to act on the findings in this important report.

"In this year's TIP report, China was identified as among the worst human trafficking offenders along with Russia, Iran, and Syria. This affirmation of China's dismal human rights record is an important step forward. China, and other foreign governments currently allowing modern slavery to flourish within their borders, should be held accountable for their failure to meet minimum standards of anti-trafficking efforts in accordance with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) or face penalties as stipulated in TVPA."

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