The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP) is an agency within the
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other n ...
charged with investigating and creating programs to prevent
human trafficking
Human trafficking is the trade of humans for the purpose of forced labour, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or others. This may encompass providing a spouse in the context of forced marriage, or the extrac ...
both within the United States and internationally. The office also presents the Trafficking in Persons Report annually to Congress, concerning human trafficking in the U.S. and other nations. This report aims to raise awareness about human exploitation and trafficking, and to prevent it. The office's goals are to make the public aware, protect victims, take legal action against violators, establish necessary and just sentences for criminals, and train law enforcement individuals. The office is led by the
.
History
The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons was established in October 2001 as a result of the passing of the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. This enabling legislation required the President to create a bureau within the State Department to specifically address human trafficking and exploitation on all levels and to take legal action against perpetrators. Additionally, this act was designed to also enforce all laws within the
Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Thirteenth Amendment (Amendment XIII) to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. The amendment was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, by the House of Representative ...
that apply.
Currently, there is a U.S. Law on Trafficking in Persons, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), which has been reauthorized several times, most recently in March 2013.
Trafficking in Persons Report
The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons monitors human trafficking and prosecutes perpetrators. It divides nations into tiers based on their compliance with standards outlined in the TVPA.
Officials
Directors
* Ambassador
Nancy Ely-Raphel (2001–2002)
* Ambassador-at-Large
John R. Miller
John Ripin Miller (May 23, 1938 – October 4, 2017) was an American politician, who served as a Member of Congress, member of the United States House of Representatives from 1985 to 1993. He represented the of Washington (state), Washington ...
(2002–2006)
* Ambassador-at-Large
Mark P. Lagon (2007–2009)
* Ambassador-at-Large
Luis CdeBaca (2009–2014)
* Ambassador-at-Large
Susan P. Coppedge (2015–2017)
* Ambassador-at-Large
John Cotton Richmond (2018–2021)
* Acting Director Kari Johnstone (2021–present)
Deputy Directors
*
Laura Lederer
Laura J. Lederer (born 1951) is a pioneer in the work to stop human trafficking. She is a legal scholar and former Senior Advisor on Trafficking in Persons in the Office for Democracy and Global Affairs of the United States Department of State. ...
(2001-2002)
* JoAnn Schneider (2002–2005)
* Paula Goode (2005–2008)
* Nan Kennelly (2008– )
*
Alison Keihl Friedman (2011– )
Reporting trafficking in the US
Individuals may call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center
(1-888-373-7888) to report a potential case of human trafficking; to connect with local anti-trafficking services; or to request training and technical assistance, general information, or specific anti-trafficking resources. The hotline is funded by th
Department of Health and Human Services but is operated by
Polaris Project
Polaris is a nonprofit non-governmental organization that works to combat and prevent sex and labor trafficking in North America. The organization's 10-year strategy is built around the understanding that human trafficking does not happen in ...
, a non-governmental organization. Victims can call for help, even if they are undocumented. Victims are commonly trafficked internationally as well as within their own countries.
Notes
External links
*
Punishing Trafficking Offenders AdequatelyDepartment of Health and Human Services Rescue and Restore CampaignNational Human Trafficking Hotline
{{DEFAULTSORT:Office To Monitor And Combat Trafficking In Persons
United States Department of State agencies
Human trafficking in the United States
Missing people organizations