ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The United States (US) has blacklisted Brunei Darussalam. This was contained in the US Department of State’s annual report last June.
In the report, the Southeast Asian country was one of those blacklisted for human trafficking.
The US has put Brunei on its tier 3 list. This level contains countries that are not doing enough to fight human trafficking and could be subject to US sanctions or reduced aid.
Brunei is said to have not punished human traffickers for seven consecutive years. Even prosecuting or deporting victims who need help.
“Brunei publicized efforts to arrest ‘runaway workers’, and caned some of those caught,” said the report, referring to the oil-rich monarchy’s treatment of victims, quoted Monday, September 16, 2024.
In fact, in general, Brunei has good relations with the US. Although this Muslim-majority country often receives criticism for continuing to apply the death penalty, especially to homosexuals.
Meanwhile, the same fate also happened to Sudan. The African country has been criticized for its incompetence in handling the recruitment of child soldiers.
The report also highlights the role of technology, saying it makes it easier for human traffickers to cross borders.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, cited an increase in cyber fraud that lures people into work.
“Yet some of the same technologies can be used to uncover and stop human trafficking and can help us hold perpetrators accountable,” Blinken said.
Meanwhile, Vietnam was actually removed from Level 3 because it was deemed to have carried out increased investigations and prosecutions and provided greater assistance to victims.
Vietnam has been included by the US on the same list for the past two years.
The same thing also happened to South Africa and Egypt. Meanwhile, Algeria was officially removed from the list. Previously China, Russia and Venezuela were also on the US list. (AT Network)
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