HUMAN TRAFFICKING (Classification of Singapore as

Mr Tan Soo Khoon asked the Minister for Home Affairs if he will comment on the report released by the United States State Department classifying Singapore as a "Tier 2" country, alongside countries such as Angola, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Haiti, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sierra Leone, in not doing enough to combat human trafficking across borders.

The Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Sir, since 2001, the US State Department is obliged by law to issue an annual report on trafficking in persons. The legislation that obliges the US State Department to issue this report requires the classification of countries into three tiers. Mr Tan Soo Khoon referred to the recent US State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report 2002, which classified Singapore as a "Tier 2" country.

Sir, I detect Mr Tan's surprise with Singapore's classification. Indeed, so am I. The criteria used by the US State Department to determine which tier a country should be placed under, include the government's efforts to, firstly, prohibit trafficking and punishing acts of trafficking; secondly, prescribe punishment commensurate for grave crimes, such as forcible sexual assault, for the knowing commission of trafficking in some of its most reprehensible forms, eg, trafficking for sexual purposes and trafficking involving rape or kidnapping; thirdly, prescribe punishment that is sufficiently stringent to deter and that adequately reflects the offence's heinous nature; and, fourthly, make serious and sustained efforts to eliminate trafficking.

Sir, "Tier 1" countries are those which the US considers to have fully met these criteria. "Tier 2" countries are those which the US considers to be making significant efforts towards meeting these criteria. "Tier 3" countries are those which the US considers to be the worst offenders. These are countries which do not meet these criteria and are not making significant efforts towards meeting them. But of note is what the US Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs, Ms Paula Dobriansky, who, in Congress, admitted on 19th June that, "Honest people can disagree on the tier placements of certain countries."

Sir, this is the second year the US State Department has issued a Trafficking in Persons Report. In last year's report, the US State Department also classified Singapore as a "Tier 2" country, despite the acknowledgement in the report that Singapore met the minimum standards set out in the criteria I have listed. We did not agree with this classification, as we were the only country in "Tier 2" to have met the minimum standards but still placed in "Tier 2" instead of "Tier 1". We pointed out inaccuracies in the report to the US Embassy here in Singapore but some continued to appear in this year's report. Sir, we will continue to point out inaccuracies in this annual report to the US Embassy here.

Sir, this House and Singaporeans know very well Singapore's tough stance, as reflected in concrete measures against illegal immigration, including trafficking of persons. Our laws protect women and children, and meet all international norms pertaining to the security and the safe passage of visitors to this country. Our enforcement agencies remain vigilant to the potential for Singapore to be used as a destination for human trafficking. Tough legislation, coupled with stepped-up enforcement on land as well as the waters around Singapore, and the further tightening of border controls at the land, air and sea checkpoints are but only some of the ways that we deter illegal immigration and human trafficking.

Sir, no country, not even the US, can claim to be completely immune to the problems of human trafficking. Indeed, some will say that the US has problems of its own in this area and falls short of its own criteria. Singapore has its own laws and procedures to deal with the matter in a realistic and practical way which work for us. We will continue to improve our approach as it suits us.

Mr Tan Soo Khoon: Sir, given our very strict laws and our vigilance on this matter, may I just say that not only was I surprised at our inclusion as a "Tier 2" country, but I was very unhappy. Can I ask the Senior Minister of State what is the response of the US State Department or the US Embassy to the disagreement that we have lodged with them?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, I think it is a continuing dialogue. For example, when we received last year's report, we corresponded with the US Embassy setting out the inaccuracies, eg, for stating Singapore to be a destination country for trafficking of women for sexual exploitation. We said that this was not so. But this inaccuracy was again reflected in this year's report. So it is a matter of continuing dialogue. We will continue to point out these inaccuracies to the US Embassy and, over time, to convince them that we are not what they say we are. But what is more important, Sir, is that Singaporeans here know of the tough laws and measures, and our position on this matter. For example, even in the US Congress, the Under Secretary herself said that people can debate about the criteria and, indeed, they are looking at so many countries. It is not a matter of science. But, of course, we disagree with the classification and we have said so very clearly, and we will continue to point out inaccuracies in the report.

Mr Tan Soo Khoon: Sir, in the dialogue that we are having with the US Embassy, have they pointed to us in which areas we are supposed to have failed?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, for example, on the question of foreign women coming to Singapore to offer commercial sex services, it is a matter of different countries' approach, whether this amounts to human trafficking for sexual exploitation. As far as Singapore is concerned, we are very clear. We have answered this question before in this House a few times, ie, in Singapore, we take an approach that is pragmatic and that works for us. The Minister himself and myself have responded on how things are done in Singapore. We know that there is prostitution. Women do come here. But what is important is that the women who come here are not coerced, forced or tricked into prostitution. They come here voluntarily. That is important. So it could be a matter of definition and approach. But it is a dialogue that we must continue.

Ms Braema Mathiaparanam: Sir, trafficking of human beings is a growing global problem. From that perspective, what is Singapore doing regionally to contain this problem?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, Singapore also takes part in many regional conferences on this matter. Indeed, it is true that human trafficking is perceived by the UN and by other international agencies as a growing problem. So we play an active part, together with other countries, in determining the extent of the problem and what measures to take to curb the problem. In short, we are an active participant with other countries to tackle this problem regionally and globally.