U.S. says Japan still has work to do in combating human trafficking

Ah, another exposure of Japan's less-than-stellar human rights record, while it concentrates on trivialities like customer harassment.

The integrity of the report itself needs teeth. This report needs to call out all countries regardless of ally status with the USA or not... it appears to be doing that. We've all read of various problems in Japan with foreign labor for various Japanese companies. What we do not often read about is foreign sex workers in Japan and that may be due to a very cozy relationship between the Govt. and a certain group.

SaikoPhyscoToday  04:57 pm JST

What we do not often read about is foreign sex workers in Japan and that may be due to a very cozy relationship between the Govt. and a certain group.

Anything is a "may be". Do you have links to support that? Or is this your speculation? Honest curiosity.

@Wesley - that amount of defensiveness and the lack of logic would put the world into total war. There are thousands of various issues across the world, this is one that almost every country in the world has a problem with. The USA also issues a report on handicapped access across the world... according to your logic the USA would first need to stop illegal immigration and gun violence before this report should be taken seriously.

Well okay perhaps if war criminals who have also introduced and supported scammer cult groups weren't restored to power the issue would be much more manageable.

No human trafficking in the USA.

Except the flood of Latino workers ...

Hypocrite nation...look to yourself before pointing fingers.

GuruMickToday 05:35 pm JST

No human trafficking in the USA.

Except the flood of Latino workers ...

Hypocrite nation...look to yourself before pointing fingers.

The US listed itself as Tier 1. The vast majority of illegal workers in the US are not trafficked and the penalties for doing so are severe. Maybe worry about your own country where anything goes with a veneer of autocracy to cover it up.

That's some sophisticated whataboutism there, Wesley. Does it really negate injustice and abuse if you can link a messenger to injustice and abuse somewhere else? Do you, if you hear gushing praise of Japan, say, "But what about X? They do/have that too." No, of course you don't. Such is the level of debate in these parts.

Some other countries in the Tier 2 list:

Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland

https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/

"does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so,"

Hear that? Not even the MINIMUM standards!

Every year 300,000 to 400,000 children disappear in the US. I wonder how many of them are victims of human trafficking.

I have yet to find any instances of child sex trafficking in Japan. And I've been looking!!

On a serious note, how is it that the US is labeling other countries when its record on this is so poor?

The report is mainly base upon laws and enforcement. The USA gets an "A", when it comes to their laws on Human Trafficing but it deserves a "D", on the enforcement front. Earlier Meiyouwenti wrote "every year 300,000 to 400,000 children disappear in the US." What he or she failed to follow up with though is that 97.8% of them are found. That data is taken straight from the Committee for Missing Children website. If you do the math... 8,800 children go missing in the USA on average each year and are not found. And still that is not a number any parent wants to hear. However on the Human Trafficing side I'd be willing to bet that the USA's number regarding children that go missing and are now found, is probably on the low side versus a list of all countries.

If you don't track statistics for a specific problem, you'll never know about it and you'll never have a way to track improvements. That goes for all problems, regardless of location in the world.

Nobody is claiming the US is perfect. It isn't even the best sort of democracy. There are lots of system flaws, as we've seen where a convicted felon can still run for high office. But gathering facts that are as good as possible is something the USA does well.

Yes, yes. And what of the over 5,500 children who were separated from their parents at the border under trump's policy? How many have been reunited with their families? Does DHS know where they are? This is a global scourge so don't start acting all sanctimonious.

In Japan, even elementary school students commute to school by train, but in America, they cannot walk to school by themselves. Every time I see a milk carton with a portrait of a child with the word "Missing" written on it, I get depressed thinking about how many children are being kidnapped in America.

Before criticizing other countries, why doesn't America try to make its own country better? Can't they even do that?

MeiyouwentiJune 25 07:25 pm JST

Every year 300,000 to 400,000 children disappear in the US. I wonder how many of them are victims of human trafficking.

Your country doesn't have runaways?

There are thousands of various issues across the world, this is one that almost every country in the world has a problem with. The USA also issues a report on handicapped access across the world... according to your logic the USA would first need to stop illegal immigration and gun violence before this report should be taken seriously.

Try taking the article and issues it's addressed seriously and stay on topic

It's about Japan

U.S. says Japan still has work to do in combating human trafficking

Meanwhile illegal immigrants are flooding into the USA through the border

Or just coming in on a flight and staying

Not good Japan! But cozy relationships between the LDP and the yaks don't help the situation!

Agent_NeoJune 25  10:35 pm JST

In Japan, even elementary school students commute to school by train, but in America, they cannot walk to school by themselves. Every time I see a milk carton with a portrait of a child with the word "Missing" written on it, I get depressed thinking about how many children are being kidnapped in America.

Before criticizing other countries, why doesn't America try to make its own country better? Can't they even do that?

The belief that Japanese children walking to school means it is inherently safer than in the US or other countries is a myth that the media perpetuates. This practice stems more from cultural tradition, practicality, and a higher tolerance for risk among Japanese parents than a reflection of greater safety.

Within reason, Japanese children face the same risks of being kidnapped, assaulted, run over, or bullied on their way to school as children in other countries.

albaleoJune 25  06:45 pm JST

Some other countries in the Tier 2 list:

Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland

https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/

It's a complicated report, and nations can be in Tier 2 for different reasons, not necessarily that there is a high number of human traffickers. This might mean that cases are rare, and therefore, there are limited regulations to prevent or protect the problem.

In New Zealand's case, for example, the exploitation of minority workers is an issue, mainly because these individuals are often recent immigrants from countries such as Myanmar and India. They are frequently exploited by compatriots rather than locals, which makes the problem more hidden and difficult to address. This situation is relatively new and challenging to combat due to limited resources and regulations designed to prevent exploitation and support affected individuals.

Jeez, pot/kettle much?