Evaluation of DoD Contracts Regarding Combating Trafficking in Persons

Over the past decade, actions of U. S. Forces personnel and contractors working for DOD overseas involving sexual slavery, human trafficking, and debt bondage attracted media attention and motivated Congressional action. Prior to 2000, instances of sexual slavery, sex with minors, and human trafficking involving U. S. contractors in Bosnia and Herzegovina led to administrative and criminal investigations. In 2002, a local television news program aired a report that women trafficked from the Philippines, Russia, and Eastern Europe were forced into prostitution in bars in South Korea frequented by U. S. military personnel. In 2004, reports chronicled allegations of forced labor and debt bondage against U. S. contractors in Iraq, leading to foreign embassy involvement. These incidents were contrary to U. S. Government policy regarding official conduct and reflected poorly on DOD. This report is the first in a series, and it discusses results of our review of contracts awarded in FY 2009. We announced this project on August 5, 2009. Our objective was to review a sample of DOD contracts for compliance with the "Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000," 22 U.S. C 78 (2009), as amended, and to summarize DOD CTIP investigative efforts. We examined a sample of contracts solicited, awarded, and administered by Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force command in the U. S. Pacific Command area of responsibility, specifically, the Republic of Korea, Japan, and U. S. Territory of Guam. Subsequent reports will cover additional Combatant Command geographical areas of responsibility. Our contracts sample consisted of construction and service contracts, each with a total value of $5 million or more and awarded in FY 2009. We believe that this sample met the "heightened risk" standard stated in the statute.