U.S. Cites Uzbekistan, Iran, Arab Allies For Human Trafficking

Officials in Ukraine discuss human trafficking at a conference in April (OSCE)
June 13, 2007 -- The U.S. State Department says Uzbekistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Syria, and North Korea are among countries that are failing to do enough to combat human trafficking, or the sale of people -- mainly women and children -- across international borders for forced prostitution and labor.

Also included for the first time on the list of countries considered not to be meeting minimum standards to combat human trafficking are U.S. allies Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar.

MORE: U.S. Report Decries 'Slavery'

Countries on this "blacklist" could face possible U.S. sanctions, including the loss of U.S. aid funds ant other support.

(compiled from agency reports)