The downgrade means that the US authorities believe that the countries do not reach the international standards in the fight against human trafficking, but that they still make significant efforts.
I the report Norway is criticized for not prosecuting anyone for human trafficking during the period covered by the report. It has not happened before.
People who have been suspected of human trafficking have been prosecuted for less serious offenses, according to the report.
Missing numbers
For the fourth year in a row, Norway has not reported figures on victims of human trafficking. Norway is also criticized for continuing to delay the development of a comprehensive data collection system, formal identification procedures and a national referral mechanism.
In addition, Norway is criticized for having too much focus on deporting people without a residence permit without examining whether there are indications of human trafficking.
The report comes on the same day as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a new strategy against modern slavery.
The new strategy deals with various measures in development cooperation that the government hopes will be a contribution to the fight against slavery. The effort will take place through various channels and in close collaboration with civil society actors with strong local roots, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Pandemic
The corona pandemic is largely to blame for an increase in human trafficking and modern-day slavery between 2020 and 2021.
The other five downgraded countries are Cyprus, Israel, New Zealand, Portugal and Switzerland, while Denmark and Iceland, among others, were previously at level 2. 28 countries, including Sweden and Finland, are ranked at the top level.
17 countries, most of them authoritarian regimes, are categorized at the third and lowest levels, of which Malaysia and Guinea-Bissau are new on the list. These countries do not achieve the lowest standard of what is to be expected in the fight against human trafficking.
These countries are in danger of being sanctioned by the United States.
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