Representatives from the HHS Office on Trafficking in Persons and New Zealand officials standing in front of the Maori gate structure at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington, DC. The red Maori gate structure is designed to promote Maori culture to an American audience.
The HHS Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) met with Suzanne Stew, Deputy Chief Executive for Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery and Steve Watson, General Manager for Immigration Compliance and Investigations from the New Zealand Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment. The group discussed common strategies to address the intersection of human trafficking and irregular migration, preventative and educational approaches, and labor market issues. OTIP overviewed HHS efforts to enhance the public health response to trafficking, including training and technical assistance for health and human service systems on early intervention, and prevention education within schools and populations at high risk for human trafficking. The dialogue also included forced labor in supply chains, public awareness and outreach campaigns, the intersection of human trafficking and climate-mediated events, and areas for additional collaboration and information sharing.
Each year, the Department of State publishes the Trafficking in Persons Report, the U.S. Government’s principal diplomatic tool to engage foreign governments on human trafficking (see the 2023 Report’s narrative describing governmental anti-trafficking efforts in New Zealand).