2006 Press Releases

Press Release

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice released the sixth annual Trafficking in Persons Report on June 5, 2006. 

June 5, 2006

The report, which covers 158 countries, describes the trafficking situation in each country and outlines the concrete actions taken by that government to combat the problem.  The goal of the Report is to raise global awareness of this crime and to motivate countries to take decisive action to counter trafficking in persons within and across their borders. 

The Trafficking in Persons Report rates each country on a three-tiered system, linking the rating to tangible actions taken by each government to eradicate trafficking during the previous year.  A country rated as Tier Three, for example, has severe trafficking problems and has not taken adequate steps in the past year to address the problem.  A Tier One country, on the other hand, has proven that it is taking concrete and successful steps against trafficking. 

Moldova continues to remain in Tier Two in the 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report.  A major source country for trafficked women and girls, Moldova does not yet fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.  However, during the past year, the government has made progress in the area of law enforcement, stepping up investigations and convicting more traffickers. 

U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires, John Winant, said in connection with the release of the report:  “We encourage the Moldovan Government to work with its National Committee on Trafficking in Persons to implement the new National Action Plan, devote real resources to prevention, and provide victims with the protection and assistance that they deserve.”

The entire 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report is available on-line at http://www.state.gov/.         The section of the report that specifically deals with Moldova can be found in English, Romanian, and Russian on the U.S. Embassy Chisinau website at http://moldova.usembassy.gov/

June 6, 2006