Response to the Trafficking in Persons Report by the U.S. Department of State
16-06-2023

Regarding the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report (hereinafter referred as the report) by the U.S. Department of State, which ranked the Macao Special Administrative Region as Tier 3, the security authority strongly opposes it and solemnly responds as the following:

Over the years, the Macao SAR Government has been providing full support to the Human Trafficking Deterrent Measures Concern Committee to follow the Law No. 6/2008 and internationally recognized strategies to coordinate government bureaus and community stakeholders to implement human trafficking prevention and victim protection measures. The government consistently evaluates and follows up on the progress of the aforementioned measures so that enhancement of related policies can be made timely. Meanwhile, law enforcement has been effectively carried out under the supervision of the judicial authorities. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious disruptions during the last 3 years, but it has never deterred the everyday operations and related measures. As a result, human trafficking crime rate has been remaining at low incidence or zero record.

The report by the U.S. constantly fails to acknowledge the comprehensive and accurate situation of Macao and repeatedly accuses the Macao government’s work on the prevention and combat against human trafficking with baseless claims. This year, the report is once again made in the same fashion and with false information. The entire report is full of ignorance and bias regarding Macao’s legislation and independent judicial system, deliberately attempting to misguide international society’s perception with subjective speculations and biased interpretations so as to obliterate the Macao government’s perennial effort in fulfilling its necessary law enforcement and judicial duties. The security authority expresses deep regret and vehemently rejects it.

Together with all stakeholders, the Macao SAR Government will continuously and determinedly fight against human trafficking in order to protect the safety and legitimate rights of local residents and visitors. Under the supervision of the judicial authorities, the security authority will continue to follow their instructions to execute law enforcement. By means of enhancing international and regional co-operation to explore preventive and combat tactics, it is possible to jointly eliminate human trafficking and all forms of exploitation.

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