Thursday, February 23, 2012

Blog #6: Africa: USAID Releases New Policy to Combat Trafficking in Persons



          Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Dr. Rajiv Shah, launched the Agency’s 2012 Counter-Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP) Policy on February 23, 2012.  The policy is set out to boost and focus the USAID’s efforts to better control human trafficking around the world.  Falling in line with policies put in place by President Obama and Secretary Clinton, USAID created a more effective, efficient policy to overcome trafficking in people.  The new policy uses more evidence-based approaches too.  Millions worldwide are victimized by trafficking, a lucrative crime, earning $32 billion a year.  Treatments include sexual exploitation, forced labor, and debt bondage.  Twelve to 27 million are said to be enslaved, although numbers aren’t precise.  USAID, one of the largest donors to fighting against trafficking, is working to help over two dozen countries.  It outlines seven guiding principles including comparative advantage, developing regional approaches, and promoting partnerships for global strides toward the abolishment of human trafficking. 
          Human inequality plays a large role in trafficking.  Many victims are located in poverty-ridden areas or areas of lower conditions.  This affects the economy of the area because victims, many young women, leave on low-income job in hopes of higher pay but only end up in a trap, causing decreases to their previous businesses as well.  These victims, this particular group located in Africa, are reliant on global polices to help regulate the issues taking place in their countries.  The C-TIP Policy works in a partnership with counter-trafficking communities to create activities and trainings to address trafficking.  There is a global effort out to end this problem. 



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