US hits Brunei, upgrades Algeria on human trafficking

AFP | Washington

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The United States on Monday put Brunei on a human trafficking blacklist while pointing to improvements by Algeria, Egypt and South Africa -- and warning technology was aggravating the global scourge. In an annual report, the State Department added Brunei to a “Tier 3” blacklist of countries that are not doing enough against human trafficking and could be subject to US sanctions or reductions of assistance.

Brunei -- a US partner as part of the ASEAN bloc -- did not convict any traffickers for the seventh straight year and likely prosecuted or deported some victims in need of help, the State Department said.

The oil-rich monarchy also “publicized efforts to catch ‘runaway workers,’ caning some of those who were caught,” the report said.

Brunei has generally had friendly relations with the United States, although the Muslim-majority country has faced criticism for keeping capital punishment on the books, if not in practice, for homosexuality.

Most countries on the Tier 3 blacklist have poor relations with the United States including China, Russia and Venezuela.

The United States removed Algeria from the blacklist, saying it was “making significant efforts,” pointing to a new anti-trafficking law and a tripling of prosecutions against alleged perpetrators.

Egypt and South Africa were both taken off a watchlist, which carries a threat to downgrade to Tier 3 without improvements.

The report said Egypt more than doubled prosecutions of alleged traffickers and prosecuted officials accused of complicity.

South Africa was also credited with increasing prosecutions and with setting up more shelters for victims.

Despite some improvements, the report warned that human trafficking remained a major problem around the world, estimating that 27 million people around the world are exploited for labor, sex or services.

The report highlighted the role of technology, saying it was making it easier for traffickers to cross borders.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, presenting the report, pointed to a rise in cyber scams that lure people who are forced into labor.

But he pointed to work by non-governmental groups, including through artificial intelligence to root out trafficking.

“Some of these same technologies can be deployed to uncover and disrupt trafficking and can help us better hold perpetrators accountable,” he said.