[CTC] State poised to issue report crucial to trade deal

Wed Jul 22 08:37:08 PDT 2015

Participate in today and tomorrow’s #TPPtrafficking Twitterstorms from noon to 1pm Eastern.  Sample tweets below...

http://thehill.com/policy/finance/trade/248739-state-poised-to-issue-report-crucial-to-trade-deal

State poised to issue report crucial to trade deal

By Vicki Needham <http://thehill.com/author/vicki-needham> - 07/21/15 06:01 PM EDT
The State Department will release a human trafficking report Monday that many lawmakers fear could raise Malaysia’s status — allowing them to remain in a sweeping international trade pact.  

Congressional lawmakers and human rights groups are rankled over speculation that the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report will upgrade the Asian nation — one of 12 nations negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) — from tier 3 to a higher status that would help them remain part of the talks. 

The recently signed fast-track law excludes tier 3 countries from trade agreements that are expedited by Congress, including the TPP. 

Since a news report broke nearly two weeks ago, congressional lawmakers have scrambled to rally opposition to any move by the State Department to promote Malaysia amid concerns that the nation has done little to improve conditions for migrant workers. 

On Friday, a bipartisan group of 160 House lawmakers — 14 Republicans and 12 Democrats who supported fast-track legislation — implored Secretary of State John Kerry asking him to keep Malaysia as a tier 3 country, the lowest level on the U.S.-produced scale. 

"An upgrade for Malaysia is certainly not merited by the facts we've seen," the lawmakers wrote in a letter. 

The House letter followed one sent to Kerry by 19 senators, including Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the top Democrat on the Finance Committee who helped usher through the package of trade bills that reached President Obama's desk last month. 

After the release of the Senate letter, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), another fast-track supporter, aligned herself with its sentiments.  

Lawmakers have expressed concern that the report’s delayed release was to give Malaysia more time to assure the State Department that efforts are being made to improve the situation. 

Ahead of the report’s release, several protests are planned this week around Washington. 

"So we're left to conclude that Malaysia's upgrade, if reported correctly, has been driven by external considerations," the lawmakers wrote. 

"A decade and a half of progress would rightly be called into question," they wrote.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said last week that the report was still being finalized and Kerry was aware of lawmakers' concerns.  

“So we’re aware of the concern expressed, obviously, and the Secretary will respond appropriately to those members and their concerns, but the report is not finalized yet,” he told reporters on Friday. 

He said the rankings are done through a vigorous process and are "based on an objective view of what those individual countries have or have not done to improve their trafficking in persons situations," he said.

"And it’s not based on political decisions or political factors at all.”

=====

Dear colleagues,

As most of you probably know, there have been recent reports that the State Department intends to upgrade Malaysia's ranking in its annual Trafficking in Persons (TiP) report, despite the country's documented deterioration of human trafficking enforcement. If Malaysia is upgraded from a tier three to a tier two country in the TiP report, it will pave the way for its inclusion in the TPP.

This Wednesday (7/22) and Thursday (7/23) there will be a big installation on the Hill to protest and raise awareness of the Obama Administration's willingness to turn a blind eye to human trafficking in order to get the TPP passed. We would like to invite you to support this on-the-ground work by joining us for a twitterstorm each day 12-1pm ET at #TPPtrafficking. Below are some suggested tweets for each day. There will also be livetweeting from the installation site, so please retweet those as well.

#TPPtrafficking Twitterstorm Details
Date:
Wednesday, July 22nd
Thursday, July 23rd
Time:
12-1pm ET
Where:
#TPPtrafficking

Let me know if you have any questions.

Best,
Symone 

Wednesday, July 22nd

Is #TPP <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPP> so important that @POTUS <https://exg6.exghost.com/owa/UrlBlockedError.aspx> will turn a blind eye to #HumanTrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HumanTrafficking>: http://bit.ly/1Tq2pPm <http://bit.ly/1Tq2pPm>? http://t.co/Iph07mTU73 <http://t.co/Iph07mTU73>#TPPtrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPPtrafficking>

Mass graves from #trafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23trafficking> victims discovered in Malaysia but @POTUS <https://exg6.exghost.com/owa/UrlBlockedError.aspx> still wants Malaysia in #TPP <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPP>. #TPPtrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPPtrafficking> http://t.co/7iepJUqRPc <http://t.co/7iepJUqRPc>

In pushing for #TPP <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPP>, US turns a blind eye to Malaysia #HumanRights <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HumanRights> abuses #TPPTrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPPTrafficking> http://bit.ly/SenateHumanTraffickingLtr <http://bit.ly/SenateHumanTraffickingLtr>  http://t.co/EkbD3kFIsl <http://t.co/EkbD3kFIsl>

Has US desire for #TPP <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPP> trumped Malaysia slavery concerns: http://t.co/sD425shMR7 <http://t.co/sD425shMR7>? Fight #TPPtrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPPtrafficking>! #HumanRights <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HumanRights> http://t.co/OHOqYn4USm <http://t.co/OHOqYn4USm>

US has moral obligation to NOT ignore #HumanTrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HumanTrafficking> in #TPP <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPP> countries: bit.ly/TPPTrafficking <http://bit.ly/TPPTrafficking>! #TPPtrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPPtrafficking> http://t.co/mETDRXAKns <http://t.co/mETDRXAKns>

Don't let @POTUS <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23POTUS> sign #TPP <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPP> w/ countries w/ #HumanRights <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HumanRights>, #Trafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Trafficking> problems http://bit.ly/1MptXjJ <http://bit.ly/1MptXjJ> #TPPtrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPPtrafficking> http://t.co/wFwWzvp6qD <http://t.co/wFwWzvp6qD>

Some things are sacred. Don't let @POTUS <https://exg6.exghost.com/owa/UrlBlockedError.aspx> sacrifice #HumanRights <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HumanRights> for #TPP <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPP>: http://bit.ly/HumanTraffickingLtr <http://bit.ly/HumanTraffickingLtr> #TPPtrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPPtrafficking> http://t.co/bM2uWfoOIP <http://t.co/bM2uWfoOIP>

US to upgrade Malaysia's #HumanTrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HumanTrafficking> ranking - is it just bc of #TPP <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPP>? http://huff.to/1fhAF0g <http://huff.to/1fhAF0g> #TPPtrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPPtrafficking> http://t.co/SyXJLDqN2i <http://t.co/SyXJLDqN2i>

#HumanRights <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HumanRights> groups urge: don't turn blind eye to #Malaysia <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Malaysia> #HumanTrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HumanTrafficking>: http://reut.rs/1L2sMrC <http://reut.rs/1L2sMrC> #TPPtrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPPtrafficking> http://t.co/mWpEYAP0M1 <http://t.co/mWpEYAP0M1>

Are we willing to sweep #HumanTrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HumanTrafficking>, #HumanRights <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HumanRights> abuses under the rug for #TPP <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPP>? Say no: bit.ly/TPPTrafficking <http://bit.ly/TPPTrafficking> http://t.co/PY671P5Usb <http://t.co/PY671P5Usb>

When #TPP <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPP> is used to undermine #HumanRights <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HumanRights> in 1 country, can be used to undermine rights everywhere #TPPtrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPPtrafficking> http://t.co/99OhnM56bj <http://t.co/99OhnM56bj>

Pledge to stand against #TPP <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPP>and #HumanTrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HumanTrafficking>: bit.ly/TPPTrafficking <http://bit.ly/TPPTrafficking>! #TPPtrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPPtrafficking> http://t.co/mX4abviXOU <http://t.co/mX4abviXOU> #StopTPP

#HumanRights <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HumanRights> organizations fear US may ease stance on #trafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23trafficking> bc of #TPP <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPP>: http://bit.ly/1HHgeR0 <http://bit.ly/1HHgeR0> #TPPtrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPPtrafficking> http://t.co/Fd4d1WbKeZ <http://t.co/Fd4d1WbKeZ>

Mass graves discovered in Malaysia but @POTUS <https://exg6.exghost.com/owa/UrlBlockedError.aspx> still wants included in #TPP <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPP>: http://bit.ly/1Gwlnuc <http://bit.ly/1Gwlnuc> #TPPtrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPPtrafficking>  http://t.co/D9YdGz8lDd <http://t.co/D9YdGz8lDd>

Don't sugarcoat Malaysia's horrifying #HumanRights <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HumanRights> record - #StopTPP <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23StopTPP> & expose #TPPtrafficking <https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TPPtrafficking>: http://bit.ly/1CALfKi <http://bit.ly/1CALfKi>http://t.co/mUWX1oKGA6 <http://t.co/mUWX1oKGA6>

Thursday, July 23nd

>160 US Reps say don't turn blind eye to #Malaysia's #HumanRights Violations: http://bit.ly/HumanTraffickingLtr <http://bit.ly/HumanTraffickingLtr>#TPPtrafficking http://t.co/EkbD3kFIsl <http://t.co/EkbD3kFIsl>

Senators say don't sweep under the rug #Malaysia's #HumanTrafficking Horrors:http://bit.ly/SenateHumanTraffickingLtr <http://bit.ly/SenateHumanTraffickingLtr> #TPPtraffickinghttp://t.co/PY671P5Usb <http://t.co/PY671P5Usb>

Corporate $$$ should NOT be more important than #HumanRights! Act to #StopTPP: bit.ly/TPPTrafficking <http://bit.ly/TPPTrafficking>#TPPtrafficking http://t.co/bM2uWfoOIP <http://t.co/bM2uWfoOIP>

. at POTUS <mailto:. at POTUS> may be turning blind eye to #HumanTrafficking to get #TPP passed: http://t.co/177uRBC4J6 <http://t.co/177uRBC4J6> #TPPtraffickinghttp://t.co/mUWX1oKGA6 <http://t.co/mUWX1oKGA6>

Find out why the US is sugarcoating #Malaysia's awful #HumanRights record: http://bit.ly/1CALfKi <http://bit.ly/1CALfKi> #TPPtraffickinghttp://t.co/99OhnM56bj <http://t.co/99OhnM56bj>

Tell #Congress not to condone #HumanTrafficking by signing TPP w/ #Malaysia: bit.ly/TPPTrafficking <http://bit.ly/TPPTrafficking> #TPPtraffickinghttp://t.co/VJTNVpoCSK <http://t.co/VJTNVpoCSK>

No to #HumanTrafficking!
No to #TPP: http://bit.ly/1Tq2pPm <http://bit.ly/1Tq2pPm>
Act to #StopTPP:  bit.ly/TPPTrafficking <http://bit.ly/TPPTrafficking> #TPPtraffickinghttp://t.co/SyXJLDqN2i <http://t.co/SyXJLDqN2i>

If the US signs the #TPP w/ #Malaysia, we are saying #HumanTrafficking is OK: http://bit.ly/1Tq2pPm <http://bit.ly/1Tq2pPm>#TPPtrafficking http://t.co/Iph07mTU73 <http://t.co/Iph07mTU73>

We shouldn't sign the #TPP w/ a country that routinely violates #humanrights: http://bit.ly/1UJzNSJ <http://bit.ly/1UJzNSJ> #TPPtraffickinghttp://t.co/G87fAcIEim <http://t.co/G87fAcIEim>

. at NETWORKLobby <mailto:. at NETWORKLobby> says not to prioritize #TPP over fighting #HumanTrafficking: http://bit.ly/1gs8b4O <http://bit.ly/1gs8b4O> #TPPtraffickinghttp://t.co/iUGgmZB72r <http://t.co/iUGgmZB72r>

Rights groups to @POTUS: don't turn blind eye to #Malaysia #HumanTrafficking: http://t.co/7S42uQ7jGl <http://t.co/7S42uQ7jGl> #TPPtraffickinghttp://t.co/VZQ4iITUJO <http://t.co/VZQ4iITUJO>

Signing #TPP w/ #Malaysia condones #HumanTrafficking:http://1.usa.gov/1KGEZ6L <http://1.usa.gov/1KGEZ6L> #TPPtrafficking bit.ly/TPPTrafficking <http://bit.ly/TPPTrafficking> http://t.co/D9YdGz8lDd <http://t.co/D9YdGz8lDd>

Faith groups to @POTUS: don't turn blind eye to #Malaysia #HumanTrafficking: http://bit.ly/1gs8b4O <http://bit.ly/1gs8b4O> #TPPtraffickinghttp://t.co/mWpEYAP0M1 <http://t.co/mWpEYAP0M1>

Dont let @POTUS turn blind eye to #HumanRights violations so he can sign #TPP: bit.ly/TPPTrafficking <http://bit.ly/TPPTrafficking> #TPPtraffickinghttp://t.co/mX4abviXOU <http://t.co/mX4abviXOU>

. at POTUS <mailto:. at POTUS> might upgrade #Malaysia's #HumanRights status despite mass graves: http://huff.to/1JWGOJW <http://huff.to/1JWGOJW> #TPPtraffickinghttp://t.co/Fd4d1WbKeZ <http://t.co/Fd4d1WbKeZ>

Symone D. Sanders 
Communications Officer | Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch

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