Today, I was watching CSPAN. Hillary Clinton held a Town Hall meeting for internal reviews of the State Department. She was asked about the State Department's strategy on Trafficking in Persons and Drugs. She answered with, what I find, an interesting response. She first discussed the Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP) of 2009. This report ranks countries in 4 tiers of trafficking prevention, prosecution and suppression mechanisms. I worked on a report in Singapore as the TIP Report was being written there, and I know that this report has major limitations.
However, Sec. Clinton said that the US was going to be placed on the TIP Report of 2010. (It has never been before, thus judging other countries trafficking problems with no mention of its own) She said that the US needs to look at itself when crafting reports about Human Rights abuses outside the US. This sparked audience applause. I thought that this marked a new outlook for the Human Rights debate in the US, as the US State Department will start comparing its procedures and actions towards HR abuses against those of other countries.
However, I wonder if the TIP 2010 will be biased. I forsee reports with little critical reflection on US policies. What do you think about this? Can this shift at the State Department be trusted?
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I didn't see this story on the news or CSPAN but I definitely think it's a step in the right direction - I'm amazed we have actually taken the initiative to involve ourselves with such a report, seeing as though we still have yet to sign the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. One reason I supported the Obama campaign was that, at least in my lifetime, it was the first presidential campaign and he was the first candidate that actually got the country to care about politics and the decisions our government officials are making for us, both at the national and international level. With the closing of Guantanamo and now this statement by Sec. Clinton, maybe some real progress (and amends) with regards to human rights are taking place in America. I'm glad to see this happening, not only for the well-being of citizens within our country, but also for our international reputation. Our abuses and accusations made towards other countries in the past have given us a bad reputation. When we try to step in in other countries' affairs while we ourselves are committing the same abuses at home, we aren't taken seriously...and for good reason. I hope that the TIP 2010 report will not be biased - that wouldn't be progressive at all. It would be in the State Department's best interests to uphold this shift if they want any of their future commitments or changes to be taken seriously. To keep the people's faith and keep them excited about change, government must stick to their word and remain transparent...something we have failed miserably at in the past.
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