International Programs — Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

The TIP Office awards grants to combat all forms of human trafficking—sex trafficking, child sex trafficking, forced labor, debt bondage, domestic servitude, forced child labor, and the unlawful recruitment and use of child soldiers—according to the “3P” paradigm of prosecuting traffickers, protecting and assisting trafficking victims, and preventing trafficking in persons.  A fourth “P”—for partnerships—is also critical to the TIP Office’s work.  The Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report, published annually in June, provides a diagnostic assessment of the efforts of 187 governments to combat human trafficking and shapes our foreign assistance priorities.

TIP Office programs support efforts to combat transnational organized crime consistent with Executive Order (E.O.) 13773, promote rule of law, and build the capacity of security sector actors to prosecute human trafficking cases using a victim-centered approach.  Programs supported by the TIP Office include ones that build the capacity of actors to identify victims and individuals who are at risk of becoming trafficking victims and ones that train officials and others on the provision of comprehensive, trauma-informed services.  TIP Office programs also help prevent human trafficking in global supply chains by funding research and providing assistance to build capacity, increase awareness, and protect vulnerable workers.  The Office’s foreign assistance aligns with the Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development’s FY 2018-2022 Joint Strategic Plan’s Goal 1 to Protect America’s Security at Home and Abroad and Strategic Objective 1.3 to counter instability, transnational crime, and violence that threatens U.S. interests by strengthening citizen-responsive governance, security, democracy, and rule of law.

In the period between July 1, 2019 and September 30, 2019, TIP Office supported partners trained 655 people in protection, 83 people in prosecution, and 391 people in multi-subject training; identified and referred 131 victims of trafficking to services; provided shelter services to 150 victims and counseling services to 287; and lead to 16 investigations, 16 arrests, 9 prosecutions, and 3 convictions.