The local government yesterday expressed strong opposition to Macau-related references in the 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report issued by the US Department of State earlier this week.
The Office of the Secretary for Security said in a statement that the report’s references to Macau attempted, with “pure conjecture and bias”, to deny the continuous efforts made by the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) government to prevent and combat human trafficking and the good results achieved therefrom.
The MSAR government has always actively coordinated government entities and various sectors of civil society to prevent and combat human trafficking as well as protect victims, the office said.
Despite the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Macau since 2020, work related to fighting human trafficking has been carried out as usual, maintaining Macau’s sound situation of its long-term low crime rate or even zero crimes in the area of human trafficking, said the office.
For years, the US report has failed to present the truth about the real situation in Macau, noted the office, adding that the MSAR government feels deeply indignant about the improper comments made by the US side on Macau’s law enforcement and judiciary work despite years of representations lodged by Macau.
The local government will, as always, firmly join hands with all sectors in Macau to prevent and control human trafficking and guarantee the safety and legitimate rights and interests of local residents and non-locals alike, the office said.
It also pledged to continue actively coordinating with judiciary entities on law enforcement and stepping up international and inter-regional exchanges and cooperation to jointly discuss strategies to prevent and combat human trafficking, so as to eliminate human trafficking and all other forms of human exploitation.
– Xinhua, MPD
