2009 Press Releases
2009 Trafficking in Persons Report Released - Greek Again Among “Heroes”
Athens (June 16, 2009) – The State Department today released the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report for 2009, as required by U.S. law. Greece is again assessed at “Tier 2,” the midpoint of three levels measuring effectiveness in the prevention, protection, and prosecution of human trafficking. For the second year in a row, the U.S. Secretary of State also cited a Greek anti-trafficking proponent, Major George Vanikiotis of the Attica Police, as one of nine “Heroes in the Global Effort to Combat Trafficking in Persons.”
Greece is a destination and transit country for victims of trafficking for purposes of both sexual exploitation and forced labor, with an assessment in the TIP Report for 2009 of “Tier 2:” not fully compliant with minimum standards but making significant efforts to do so. This year’s report notes that the Greek government increased overall funding toward victim protection and demonstrated strong law enforcement efforts. However, the report also notes insufficient progress in Greece on punishing trafficking offenders, proactively identifying victims, providing reliable shelter facilities for trafficking victims, and specifically targeting domestic audiences with sex and labor trafficking prevention campaigns.
One of nine “Heroes in the Global Effort to Combat Trafficking in Persons” honored by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this year, Major George Vanikiotis, a commander in the Anti-Trafficking Unit of the Attica Police’s Organized Crime Division, is one of Greece’s most knowledgeable anti-trafficking proponents. He provides training to police cadets, prosecutors, health professionals, labor inspectors, and NGOs throughout the country. Major Vanikiotis also leads anti-trafficking seminars at high schools and universities. The Anti-Trafficking Unit he directed concentrated on tackling several major urban trafficking rings in 2008 and will focus on labor exploitation and international law enforcement cooperation in 2009. Last year, the State Department honored Emma Skjonsby Manousaridis, director of the Athens-based non-governmental organization “Nea Zoi” (New Life).
