12 June 2003
Trafficking Report Says Burma's Military Uses Forced Labor
(Also cites sexual exploitation) (740)
The State Department designated Burma as a Tier 3 government in its
third annual Trafficking in Persons Report due to the Burmese
government's lack of significant efforts to meet congressionally set
standards for combating human trafficking.
The report, released June 11, faults Burma's military rulers for
continued extensive use of internal forced labor.
"The military is directly involved in forced labor trafficking," the
report says.
The report acknowledges that the military junta ruling Burma has taken
steps to combat trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation, but it
describes Burma's record as "inadequate."
"The Government of Burma does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so," the report says.
The State Department is required to report to Congress annually
whether foreign governments fully meet the minimum standards set for
the elimination of trafficking as detailed in the U.S. Trafficking
Victims Protection Act of October 2000. Governments that are not
making significant efforts to meet the standards are placed on the
Tier 3 list.
The full text of the report is available at:
http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2003/
Following is an excerpt on Burma from the report released by the
Department of State June 11:
(begin excerpt)
Burma (Tier 3)
Burma is a source country for persons trafficked for labor and sexual
exploitation. Although the government has taken steps to combat
trafficking for sexual exploitation, significant use of internal
forced labor continues, especially by the military. Burmese are
trafficked mainly to Thailand, but also to China, Taiwan, Malaysia,
Pakistan, and Japan for sexual exploitation, as well as domestic and
factory work. Internally, trafficking of women and girls for
prostitution occurs from villages to urban centers and other areas,
such as trucking crossroads, fishing villages, border towns, and
mining and military camps.
The Government of Burma does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so. The military is directly involved in
forced labor trafficking. The ILO's attempts to work with the
government to address forced labor abuses have had only limited
success. Burma's failure to make progress on forced labor more than
offsets the government's improving, but still inadequate, record of
combating trafficking for sexual exploitation. The government has
allowed some limited but important NGO and international organization
activity to educate officials and vulnerable populations, and to
assist trafficking victims returning from abroad.
Prevention
Governmental measures to prevent trafficking for sexual exploitation
include publicizing the dangers in border areas via
government-sponsored discussion groups, distribution of printed
materials, and media programming. The government has worked with the
UN to educate officials and potential victims on the nature of
trafficking for sexual exploitation. The results are uneven and their
effectiveness is often undercut by the repressive political climate in
Burma and constrained by the government's limited financial resources.
Government involvement in forced labor continues. Forced labor
prevention efforts are limited to posting directives prohibiting such
practices. The government has not publicly acknowledged that forced
labor is a widespread problem and has rebuffed recommendations on
prevention made by the ILO, which maintains an office in Rangoon.
Prosecution
Burma lacks a comprehensive anti-trafficking law, but a combination of
statutes against kidnapping and prostitution is used to arrest and
prosecute offenders who traffick in persons for sexual exploitation.
According to official government data, Burma prosecuted about 100 such
traffickers over the last year. Although information on convictions is
incomplete, sentences reportedly ranged from 5 to 12 years, with most
carrying a prison sentence of seven years. Corruption is a problem as
some local and regional officials are suspected of turning a blind eye
to trafficking. The Burmese military has generally not implemented
directives prohibiting forced labor trafficking, while continuing to
carry out abuses including forced portering, road construction, and
military conscription (including of children). There have been no
arrests or prosecutions of corrupt officials related to trafficking.
Protection
The government provides limited programming to provide women with
income-generating skills and to assist returning victims of
trafficking, but there is no specific budget for such activities,
which are largely "self-financing." It allows two foreign NGOs and the
UN to provide some services and support for repatriation of victims
trafficked for sexual exploitation. The government provides no
assistance to victims trafficked for forced labor.
(end excerpt)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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