Armenia Receives Tier 1 Rating in Annual U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. State Department released on Thursday the 2016 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which looks at how 188 countries, including the U.S., were tackling this serious crime throughout 2015 and into 2016. For the fourth year in a row, Armenia is a Tier 1 country, recognized as fully committed to fighting trafficking in persons.

The report emphasized the role of Armenian anti-trafficking inter-agency group, which includes representatives of the government, civil society and international organizations.

The Government of Armenia fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. It also affords foreign trafficking victims the same rights and services as Armenian citizens. The report highlights.

Susan Coppedge Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, stated that Armenia made progress in this report. She noted that progress is made when governments evaluate the recommendations in the report, help fight against human trafficking, prevent crime, bring the guilty to account and help persons who have suffered from trafficking, and that it is in this case that these countries—just like Armenia— appear in a higher group.

“The success of the anti-trafficking group shows what can be achieved when the government and civil society listen to each other and cooperate. This group is an example in the fight against difficult issues,” said U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills.

In 2015, the Armenian government allocated 46,259,000 drams ($95,000) for assistance to trafficking victims.