The US government has acknowledged progress in the campaign against human trafficking in the Philippines. According to the 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report released yesterday by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Philippines is now off the Tier Watch List and is now on Tier Two. (Visit this site to understand the tier placements.)

Below is a statement released today by the US embassy in Manila:

U.S. Government Acknowledges Philippine Progress in Combating Human Trafficking

The United States officially acknowledged progress made by the Government of the Philippines in combating human trafficking in the 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report that was released by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday, June 27, at approximately 2 p.m. Washington, DC time in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the Department of State.

In the report, the Philippines moved to Tier Two status, indicating progress has been made thanks to government leadership. Tier Two status removes the immediate threat of sanctions but does indicate work needs to continue on this global challenge.

At the event releasing the report, Secretary Clinton presented Attorney Darlene Pajarito, Assistant Zamboanga City Prosecutor, with the State Department’s Global Trafficking in Persons’ Hero Award. Attorney Pajarito successfully prosecuted the first human trafficking case in the Philippines and tried the first labor trafficking prosecution resulting in a conviction.

“We salute President Aquino and Secretary of Justice De Lima for their commitment in this fight. I would also like to commend Zamboanga Prosecutor Attorney Darlene Pajarito for her steadfast advocacy against modern day slavery in the Philippines,” said U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr.

“This is not the end, but rather the beginning of the next phase in our common fight against human trafficking. We applaud the Philippines’ efforts to increase the prosecution of traffickers and to address the corruption that allows this scourge to prosper. While we applaud the successes, we also recognize that much more must be done. The U.S. will continue to be a strong partner to the Philippines in this global fight against modern slavery.