Georgia retains top US ranking in fight against human trafficking for 11th consecutive year

Georgia has retained its top-tier ranking in the US State Department’s annual report on human trafficking for the 11th consecutive year, the Interior Ministry said on Friday.

The report placed Georgia in Tier 1, the highest category, indicating that the country is assessed as fully meeting the minimum standards for combating human trafficking and continuing sustained efforts to address the crime.

The report highlighted several measures taken by Georgian authorities during the reporting period, including proactive inspections of high-risk locations by the Adjara Police Department and mobile police teams.

It also noted that, for the first time in five years, individuals accused of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation were prosecuted in Georgia.

The report further highlighted cooperation between Georgian law enforcement agencies and their foreign counterparts in investigating trafficking cases, as well as specialised training for police officers, judges and prosecutors conducted in cooperation with international organisations.

The report also noted that the Georgian government continued to work on preventing human trafficking and protecting witnesses and victims.