US Trafficking in Persons Report: Georgia only EaP state ‘fully meeting’ trafficking elimination standards

Georgia remains in Tier 1 of the US Trafficking in Persons Report. Photo: thehindu.com.

Agenda.ge, 26 Jun 2020 - 12:08, Tbilisi,Georgia

The US Department of States has released its Trafficking in Persons report for 2020 in which Georgia remains in Tier 1, along with the US, UK, Switzerland and others, for fully meeting minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking. 

Georgia is the only Eastern Partnership state in Tier 1. 

By the US Department of State.

The Georgian government continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period; therefore Georgia remained in Tier 1. These efforts included increasing overall prosecution and victim protection efforts. The government prosecuted more suspects, identified more victims, and provided more comprehensive victim assistance,” said the report.

The report says that the Georgian government increased the number of mobile identification groups from four to six and continued proactive identification efforts. 

The report states that although the Georgian government meets the minimum standards, the government requires foreign victims to remain in-country through the end of the trial, likely hindering victim cooperation, particularly from foreign victims wanting to repatriate, due to slow court proceedings.