U.S. Warns 13 Countries Of Possible Sanctions For Human Trafficking

The Obama administration has informed 13 countries that they face possible U.S. sanctions for failing to meet minimal international standards for combating human trade and sexual slavery, according to the State Department's 10th annual report on the topic, the AP/Boston Globe reports. The countries facing possible sanctions are Cuba, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Iran, Kuwait, Mauritania, Myanmar, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Zimbabwe.

The department, which analyzed the practices of 177 countries, placed 58 other countries on a "watch list," meaning that they could face sanctions if they do not improve their records.

The report included the U.S. for the first time. Although trafficking is a problem in the U.S., the country met minimum standards and scored in the top tier, which was mainly comprised of European nations.

Switzerland was demoted from the top tier this year because Swiss law permits sex work among 16- and 17-year-olds in some cases, the report said (Lee, AP/Boston Globe, 6/14).


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