For Immediate Release: July 10, 2015
Contacts:
Religious groups oppose State
Department’s proposed upgrade of Malaysia’s trafficking status
Groups fear final Customs bill could further weaken trafficking, other standards to protect vulnerable populations.
Fourteen religious organizations with a presence in the U.S. and in
countries overseas today sent a letter to members of a conference committee in
Congress to express deep moral concerns related to H.R. 644, the “Trade
Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015” (also referred to as the
Customs bill), particularly the version that passed in the House. The chief
concern was that the final bill could weaken strong anti-trafficking provision
in the trade promotion authority bill signed into law June 29, 2015.
It has been reported that Malaysia, a country that the U.S. State
Department’s Trafficking In Persons report had elevated to a “Tier 3” country
for their lack of action to combat trafficking will be back to a “Tier 2”
status this year. Malaysia is a party to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade
agreement that the Obama Administration hopes to complete by the end of 2015.
According to Sister Simone
Campbell, executive director of NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice
Lobby, “This can only be seen as a cynical political action meant to
bolster Malaysia’s trade status with the U.S. at the expense of countless human
trafficking victims. Coming so soon after the discovery in May of almost 150
graves in Malaysian camps of trafficking victims, the State Department’s
reported decision cannot be justified on any level.”
Reverend J.
Herbert Nelson, II, director of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Office of
Public Witness stated: “The United
States' willingness to compromise on holding Malaysia accountable for its human
rights abuses simply to secure the Trans-Pacific Partnership is yet another
mark of a broken trading system. Actions such as this show an active disregard
for those with the least power in our societies. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
does not support the TPP, nor does it support weakening our stance against
human trafficking in any form. As a country, our diplomacy should be focused on
improving the quality of life for all individuals around the world - without
exception.”
“We are very concerned about the possible
upgrading of Malaysia from the lowest tier of the U.S. State Department annual Trafficking
in Persons list of worst human trafficking countries,” reported Ann Scholz, SSND, Associate Director for
Social Mission, Leadership Conference of Women Religious. “It is
problematic on many levels. It disregards the suffering and death of trafficked
persons in Malaysia; sends a dangerous message to countries who continue to
turn a blind eye to the exploitation of persons within their borders; and
threatens the integrity of the TIP report and the commitment of the U.S.
government to ending human trafficking.”
“In April 2014, Pope Francis condemned
human trafficking as a crime against humanity, a scourge and an open wound in
contemporary society. The TIP report has been an important tool to encourage
governments to curb and one day end this terrible offense,” reported Gerry Lee, director of the Maryknoll Office
for Global Concerns, “We urge the State Department to uphold high standards
rather than to make exceptions for countries when convenient for economic gains
for the few that will benefit from the TPP.”
The Interfaith
Working Group on Trade and Investment is a group committed to asserting
a stronger presence of communities of faith in public policy discussions on
trade and investment.
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