Latest news with #2024TraffickinginPersonsReport
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Rubio imposes visa bans over Cuba's medical missions program
June 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department has imposed visa restrictions on an unspecified number of Central American government officials accused of being involved in Cuba's medical mission program. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the punitive measure in a statement Tuesday, describing those targeted with the visa restrictions as "officials responsible for Cuban medical mission programs that include elements of forced labor and the exploitation of Cuban workers." "These steps promote accountability for those who support and perpetuate these exploitative practices," Rubio said. "The Cuban labor export program abuses the participants, enriches the corrupt Cuban regime and deprives everyday Cubans of essential medical care that they desperately need in their homeland." According to the State Department's 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report for Cuba, medical professionals comprise 75% of Cuba's exported workforce, generating $4.9 billion of its total $7 billion in service exports in 2022. The United States, citing doctors who have escaped from the program, accuses Cuba of human trafficking and worker exploitation, stating that those deployed to some 50 countries receive little or no pay, have their passports and medical credentials confiscated and have their rights restricted abroad, while also facing repercussions if they leave the program. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Human Rights Watch said the Cuban government imposes "draconian rules" on doctors deployed abroad. The move comes after Rubio, in late February, announced that the State Department was expanding its visa restrictions policy targeting forced labor to enable the blacklisting of those linked to Cuba's labor export programs. Though Cuba has yet to respond to Tuesday's move, it lashed out at the Trump administration following February's announcement, with Havana's foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, said the visa restrictions were "based on falsehoods and coercion." Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., said on X Tuesday that she supports Rubio's visa ban on those who benefit from Cuba's international medical program. "No nation should enrich a dictatorship by exploiting its own people," she said. "It's time to end these slave missions and stand with the Cuban people."
UPI
4 days ago
- Health
- UPI
Rubio imposes visa bans over Cuba's medical missions program
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday announced they were imposing visa bans on government officials linked to Cuba's medical missions program. File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo June 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department has imposed visa restrictions on an unspecified number of Central American government officials accused of being involved in Cuba's medical mission program. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the punitive measure in a statement Tuesday, describing those targeted with the visa restrictions as "officials responsible for Cuban medical mission programs that include elements of forced labor and the exploitation of Cuban workers." "These steps promote accountability for those who support and perpetuate these exploitative practices," Rubio said. "The Cuban labor export program abuses the participants, enriches the corrupt Cuban regime and deprives everyday Cubans of essential medical care that they desperately need in their homeland." According to the State Department's 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report for Cuba, medical professionals comprise 75% of Cuba's exported workforce, generating $4.9 billion of its total $7 billion in service exports in 2022. The United States, citing doctors who have escaped from the program, accuses Cuba of human trafficking and worker exploitation, stating that those deployed to some 50 countries receive little or no pay, have their passports and medical credentials confiscated and have their rights restricted abroad, while also facing repercussions if they leave the program. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Human Rights Watch said the Cuban government imposes "draconian rules" on doctors deployed abroad. The move comes after Rubio, in late February, announced that the State Department was expanding its visa restrictions policy targeting forced labor to enable the blacklisting of those linked to Cuba's labor export programs. Though Cuba has yet to respond to Tuesday's move, it lashed out at the Trump administration following February's announcement, with Havana's foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, said the visa restrictions were "based on falsehoods and coercion." Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., said on X Tuesday that she supports Rubio's visa ban on those who benefit from Cuba's international medical program. "No nation should enrich a dictatorship by exploiting its own people," she said. "It's time to end these slave missions and stand with the Cuban people."
New Straits Times
05-05-2025
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: Of human trafficking and syndicates
Human trafficking for sex or slavery just refuses to go away. On Friday, the Immigration Department rescued 10 underage foreigners from a sex ring in Johor. Its enforcement unit also arrested 37 Vietnamese women and 16 Indonesian women, aged between 18 and 40, believed to be involved in prostitution. The question is how did the foreigners get into the country? Were they smuggled in? Not an impossibility given the ease with which human trafficking syndicates are able to recruit corrupt officers as facilitators. A few — with dreams of driving Maseratis in Jimmy Choo shoes — even become members of syndicates. Move from Friday's news to that of a year or two earlier, it is the same old story. Put it down to the dystopian times we live in. The rescue of the 10 minors and 53 women during the raid on a sex trafficking syndicate operating a spa and massage parlour in Johor Baru is a warning sign that there may be more of them in the spas and massage parlours throughout the country. Or at least in the sleazy parts of our cities. While we applaud the brave efforts of the Immigration Department in rescuing the minors and foreign women, who appear to have fallen for false job offers, its Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Money Laundering Division needs to put its intelligence gathering on overdrive. This, supported by robust enforcement, should be able to keep track of foreigners entering the country and whether or not they are here for the purpose they state in their immigration landing card. History tells us that not all foreigners who travel to Malaysia are here for a visit. Some, like the 53 foreign women rescued in Johor, are victims of job scams. Some choose to overstay. Yet others are smuggled into the country. Robust enforcement is the keystone to free Malaysia of human trafficking for sex, labour or other forms of slavery. Right now, our human trafficking record — in the eyes of the United States State Department, that is — is not something we would love to write home about, though we have been upgraded from 2023's Tier 2 Watch-List to Tier 2 last year. The reason? Malaysia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, though it is making significant efforts to do so, the 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report says. Some of the reasons quoted for the upgrade are the increasing number of trafficking investigations, including of suspected labour trafficking; more traffickers being convicted, with the majority of them receiving significant sentences; increasing trafficking public awareness efforts, and prosecuting allegedly complicit officials. More needs to be done, not by the Immigration Department alone, but by all authorities tasked with curbing human trafficking. The Employment Act 1955 is a case in point. The Act criminalises forced labour practices by threats of intimidation, restriction of movement or fraud to induce labour or services. But how often do we hear of employers being hauled to court for such offences, despite the Labour Department having a trafficking enforcement team? From few to none. Malaysia's ambition is to make the country free of human trafficking. But ambition needs action, and a coordinated one at that.
Shafaq News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
2.3K lives lost: Iraq's grim toll of human trafficking
Shafaq News/ The number of human trafficking victims in Iraq has reached 2,300 over the past three years, with authorities dismantling over 1,800 criminal networks and individuals involved in trafficking and forced begging, Iraq's Strategic Center for Human Rights head, Fadel al-Gharawi said on Monday. According to al-Gharawi, 'Recent global statistics indicate that the number of trafficking victims exceeded 28 million in 2024, marking a 12% increase compared to 2023.' He explained that the predominant forms of exploitation globally included forced labor (50%) and sexual exploitation (38%). In contrast, other types—such as forced marriage and organ trafficking—accounted for around 12% of documented cases. Women and girls comprised approximately 65% of all victims, while children made up around 25%, highlighting the vulnerability of these groups, particularly in conflict zones and areas affected by humanitarian crises. In Iraq, forced labor remains the most common form of trafficking, particularly in agriculture, construction, and domestic service sectors. Other widespread abuses include forced begging and the exploitation of women and children in illicit activities. Organ trafficking continues to be a growing concern. Al-Gharawi reported that in 2024 alone, Iraqi authorities arrested 162 suspects linked to the sale of human organs. Authorities also registered 158 trafficking victims that year and placed them in protective shelters. Despite the implementation of Iraq's Anti-Human Trafficking Law No. 28 of 2012 and the establishment of specialized national committees and victim shelters, significant obstacles remain. The US Department of State's 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report continues to list Iraq under the 'Tier 2 Watch List,' indicating that while some progress has been made, further efforts are needed in law enforcement capacity, investigative reach, prosecution rates, and victim support. Al-Gharawi urged the Iraqi government, parliament, and relevant authorities to update national legislation in alignment with international protocols and to intensify public awareness efforts, especially in high-risk areas. He also called for stronger coordination between Iraqi agencies and international organizations to pursue cross-border trafficking networks, and to enhance comprehensive support for victims—including legal, psychological, and social assistance—as well as to invest in improved early-warning systems.
