Title: Human trafficking
Description: Human trafficking--a worldwide crime involving the exploitation of men, women, and children for others' financial gain--is a violation of human rights. Victims are often lured or abducted and forced to work in involuntary servitude. Since 2001, the U.S. government has provided about $447 million to combat global human trafficking. As GAO previously reported, estimates of the number of trafficking victims are questionable. In this report, GAO examines (1) collaboration among organizations involved in international antitrafficking efforts, (2) U.S. government monitoring of antitrafficking projects and difficulties in evaluating these projects, and (3) suggestions for strengthening monitoring and evaluation. GAO analyzed agency documents; convened an expert panel; interviewed officials; and conducted fieldwork in Indonesia, Thailand, and Mexico. GAO recommends that the Secretaries of State and Labor and the Administrator of USAID consider taking actions to (1) improve information about project impact on human trafficking and (2) address monitoring and evaluation in project design. In their comments, State agreed to implement the recommendations. While agreeing that monitoring and evaluation are important, Labor and USAID did not directly respond to GAO's recommendations.
Subjects: Human trafficking, Prevention, International cooperation