the tvpa. the report itself reflects a year of dedicated effort to monitor persons, as well as other bureaus and offices, and our missions around the world. working your route across -- year-round across offices incontinence the department , engages government and civil society. it collects data. it navigates local laws. develops best practices and objectively assesses each government's efforts, including our own, to comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons as established by the tvpa. in this process we assess the adequacy of local laws and we evaluate government actions to prosecute suspects, protect victims, and prevent further trafficking. based on the country assessments, the tip report ranks countries and territories on different tiers in accordance to their adherents with the minimal standards outlined in the tvpa. these are complex criteria that require complex factual analysis. the tvpa delineates additional criteria for assessing governments. let