[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 67 (Wednesday, May 22, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H2836]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        STATE DEPARTMENT RELEASES TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, in the coming weeks, the State Department 
will be releasing its annual ``Trafficking in Persons report.'' This 
report will highlight the very serious problem of international sex 
trafficking and forced prostitution around the world in the countries 
that tolerate it.
  Still, some of the worst offenders such as India and Thailand have 
made no progress in combating this sex trafficking. Worse, it is on the 
rise.
  In India, over 2.3 million girls and women are believed to be working 
in the sex industry against their will. Yet there are no known 
convictions for sex trafficking.
  In Thailand, we are up to 1 million trafficking victims. 
Approximately 100,000 are children, boys and girls; yet there are no 
known convictions for sex trafficking.
  Mr. Speaker, this is unacceptable.
  Mr. Speaker, the complicity and tolerance of sex trafficking must 
stop. The State Department must not grant passing grades to these 
countries in its report until they show real improvement and begin to 
protect women and children in their country.

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