Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000

The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (TVPA) is a federal statute passed into law in 2000 by the U.S. Congress. It offers protections for persons in the country illegally who may be victims of human trafficking.

The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act had been subsequently renewed in 2003, 2006, and 2008. There are two stipulations an applicant has to meet in order to receive the benefits of the T-Visa. First, a trafficked victim must prove/admit to being trafficked and second must submit to prosecution of his or her trafficker. In 2011, Congress failed to re-authorize the Act.

A problem arises from the second portion of requirements of an applicant. Many trafficked persons are extremely fearful of retaliation upon the self or the family and thus serves as a major deterrent to individuals even considering application.

The TVPA allowed for the establishment of the Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, which coordinates with foreign governments to protect trafficking victims, prevent trafficking, and prosecute traffickers.

See also

• Human trafficking
• Human trafficking in the United States
• United_States_Department_of_State
• Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

External links

• Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000
• INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE, FORCED LABOR, and SEX TRAFFICKING STATUTES ENFORCED at the Department of Justice
• National Geographic September 2003 pp 23.