The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government is determined to combat the crime of trafficking in persons and has been relentless in its efforts in this regard, the Office of the Secretary for Security of the Macao SAR stated.

The statement was made following on Thursday (20 June) regarding the Department of State of the United States of America has lately released its 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report. The Macao SAR was ranked on the report’s Tier 2 Watch List.

The Macao security authorities noted a slight improvement in terms of the ranking mentioned for Macao in the U.S. report. Nonetheless, the security authorities strongly disagreed with the content of the report in relation to Macao. It did not reflect Macao’s actual situation and contained biased judgements and baseless assumptions. 

The Government would continue to work in line with international protocols and standards, and with concerted effort from local communities, to prevent human trafficking in Macao and to protect the legitimate right of residents and visitors.

The Human Trafficking Deterrent Measures Concern Committee serves as a mechanism to coordinate Government-community efforts on prevention and combatting of this crime, and work relating to protection for victims of it.

The committee holds a monthly plenary meeting to review and assess Macao’s effort against human trafficking, and to introduce where necessary new measures to optimise work in that regard.

The Government’s law-enforcement effort in combatting human trafficking has been effectively carried out under the supervision of the local judiciary. The decline in cases relating to human trafficking and labour exploitation recorded in recent years, demonstrates the efficient collaboration between the Government and local communities.

The security authorities will closely collaborate with the judicial authorities to carry out necessary preventive and investigative works and adopt proper measures according to objective need. Furthermore, the security authorities will remain in touch with international organisations, neighbouring countries and regions, in order for Macao to work together with those organisations and places to prevent and combat all kinds of human trafficking-related crimes.