La Strada Documentation Center

The U.S. Response to Human Trafficking: An Unbalanced Approach

Document number
1343
Date
2007
Title
The U.S. Response to Human Trafficking: An Unbalanced Approach
Author/publisher
Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children
Availability
View/save PDF version of this document
Document type(s)
Research/Study/Analysis,
Keywords
Women's rights; Women; Control and regulation of prostitution, Protection, Punishable forms of prostitution, Prostitution; Sex work; Unionisation of sex workers; Clients, Abolitionism; New Abolitionism; Prohibitionism; Regulationism, United States
Summary
This report is focused on the United States’ efforts to protect trafficked persons found in the United States. Under the TVPA, protections, services and benefits are only offered to trafficked persons who are witnesses assisting law enforcement. This system presents its own challenges in accessing benefits and services, particularly due to law enforcement’s manipulation of the system. The report recommends a shift to a rights-based, protection-centred approach. This is the last of a four-part series; previous reports focused on Nepal, Columbia and the United Kingdom. "Conspicuously absent from the TVPA is any programming for the reintegration of trafficked persons found in the United States. Truly comprehensive trafficking legislation would have made provisions for reintegration. Its absence indicates a non-rights based approach to human trafficking."
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