On Thursday, June 25, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo published the US State Department's 2020 Report on combating trafficking in human beings (Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 2020). Latvia's efforts have been assessed according to Level 2 (Tier 2), which means that the Latvian government does not fully meet the minimum standards to eliminate trafficking in human beings, but makes considerable efforts to do so.
The Latvian Government's efforts to include an increase in criminal and sentencing cases for traffickers were welcomed; significantly harsher sentencing, including imprisonment for convicted traffickers; amendments to regulatory frameworks to include in the State paid victims of trafficking in minors from the country outside family care institutions and a significant increase in relation to the identified foreign population. the US Secretary of State Pompeo welcomed the contribution of ten anti-trafficking activists from Bhutan, Egypt, Cape Verde, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Malavi and Moldova to the fight against trafficking in human beings.
Lāsma Stabiņa received the Special Recognition of the US State Department and the honour name of the TIP Report 2020 Hero was received by the Senior Expert of the Department of Industry Policy of the Ministry of the Interior – National Coordinator for the Prevention of Trafficking in Human Beings. "I'm proud to be honored as a hero of the TIP report. I am proud to bear the name of Latvia in the world and to show to others the strength and determination of my country and its people," said Stabiņa.
For years, Lāsma Stabiņa has directed Latvia's policy on preventing trafficking in human beings. Since 2014 she has been co-ordinator of the National Human Trade of the Latvian Government, intervening to reform human trafficking within the government and developing relations with NGOs. She has made an invaluable contribution to combating trafficking in human beings with her work, experience, energy and position, which increased awareness of trafficking among Latvian and international audiences.
Additional links:
https://lv.usembassy.gov/lv/our-relationship-lv/policy-history-lv/trafficking-in-persons-lv/
https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2020-TIP-Report-Complete-062420-FINAL.pdf
Prepared:
Samanta Nalivaiko
Ministry of the Interior
Communication departments
Public relations specialist
Tel.: 67219082
E-mail: samanta.nalivaiko@iem.gov.lv