By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
The United States has placed Brazil and South Africa on its human trafficking watch list, saying both countries failed to demonstrate sufficient progress in combating forced labour, sex trafficking and other forms of modern slavery.
The State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, released on Monday after a three-month delay, downgraded the two nations to the “Tier 2 Watch List”. Countries in this category must step up efforts or risk possible US sanctions.
The report noted that while both governments made notable efforts, those fell short of the minimum standards. For South Africa, it cited the launch of a new sub-provincial task team and an increase in trafficking convictions, but fewer victims were identified and prosecutions declined. In Brazil, the government opened fewer investigations and prosecutions than in previous years, and courts reported fewer initial convictions.
“Human trafficking is a horrific and devastating crime that also enriches transnational criminal organizations and immoral, anti-American regimes,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. He did not address specific country rankings.
The report was delivered to Congress nearly three months late after staffing in the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons was cut by 71%. Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas told lawmakers the reductions mainly affected report writers, part of broader State Department staff cuts earlier this year.
The downgrade comes amid strained US ties with both countries. President Donald Trump has accused South Africa of persecuting its white minority, imposed tariffs and launched a refugee program for white South Africans. Brazil has faced US visa restrictions and sanctions following the conviction of former President Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally.
Democratic lawmakers had raised concerns about the report’s delay, with some warning that reduced oversight could weaken US efforts to hold foreign governments accountable on human trafficking.
