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- The 2013 agreement was reported as a cross border cooperation document
- The ABA Journal described the topics covered by the memorandum of understanding
- Professional associations can influence policy discussions even when they do not enforce laws
- Federal law plays a central role in United States anti trafficking policy
- State law can matter because many crimes and services are handled locally
- Written cooperation efforts can face practical limits and legal boundaries
- Sources
Key Facts
- Federal and state: Human trafficking policy work in the United States often involves both federal law and state-by-state laws and remedies.
- Federal and state: In June 2013, the American Bar Association and the Inter-American Bar Association were reported to have signed a memorandum of understanding in Paraguay.
- Federal and state: The ABA Journal reported that the agreement described cooperation on human trafficking, globalization of the legal profession, and funding for judicial systems in the Americas.
- Federal and state: The ABA Journal also reported that the groups agreed to advocate against governments that use democratic institutions to undermine those institutions and judicial independence.
- Federal level: The American Bar Association describes the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 as establishing methods of prosecuting traffickers, preventing trafficking, and protecting victims and survivors.
- Federal level: The American Bar Association describes the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 as establishing trafficking and related offenses as federal crimes.
- Federal level: The American Bar Association describes the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 as creating the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and requiring a Trafficking in Persons report each year.
- State level: The American Bar Association has endorsed a model state law called the Uniform Prevention of and Remedies for Human Trafficking Act.
The 2013 agreement was reported as a cross border cooperation document
A June 2013 report by the ABA Journal described a memorandum of understanding between the American Bar Association and the Inter-American Bar Association, also known in Spanish as the Federación Interamericana de Abogados.
That same report stated that leaders of the two organizations signed the memo of understanding in Paraguay and agreed to work together on multiple regional issues, including human trafficking and the rule of law.
The ABA Journal described the topics covered by the memorandum of understanding
According to the ABA Journal, the agreement focused on cooperation regarding human trafficking, the globalization of the legal profession, and funding for judicial systems in the Americas.
Beyond those subjects, the ABA Journal reported that the two groups also agreed to advocate against governments that use democratic institutions to destabilize and undermine those institutions and the independence of the judiciary.
The ABA Journal report attributed a statement to ABA President Laurel G. Bellows describing the agreement as signaling the ABA’s commitment to work internationally and emphasizing that the rule of law can matter across borders.
Professional associations can influence policy discussions even when they do not enforce laws
Bar associations and other professional groups commonly participate in public discussions about law and legal systems, including education, research, and professional standards.
Even so, criminal investigations and prosecutions are generally government functions, and changes to criminal laws typically occur through legislatures and courts rather than through professional memoranda between private organizations.
Federal law plays a central role in United States anti trafficking policy
On the federal side, the American Bar Association describes the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 as a foundational federal law that addresses prosecution, prevention, and protection related to trafficking.
The same American Bar Association resource describes that federal framework as including the creation of a federal office focused on trafficking in persons and an annual Trafficking in Persons report.
State law can matter because many crimes and services are handled locally
State criminal laws, state courts, and local agencies often affect how trafficking-related cases move through the justice system, and the details can vary from state to state.
In that context, the American Bar Association has endorsed a model state law called the Uniform Prevention of and Remedies for Human Trafficking Act, which it describes as a comprehensive model law intended to help support effective action by states and other U.S. jurisdictions.
Written cooperation efforts can face practical limits and legal boundaries
When organizations announce plans to cooperate, results often depend on resources, coordination, and differences in legal systems across jurisdictions.
In cross-border settings, terms like “rule of law” and “judicial independence” can also involve sensitive questions about national institutions, professional ethics, and differing constitutional structures.
