Myanmar called an annual report issued by the U.S. State Department “sad and regrettable” after being named among the worst human trafficking offenders.

Along with Iran, North Korea and Syria, the report cited Myanmar’s negligence to meet “the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking.”

Reuters reported that Myanmar’s ranking, which got downgraded from the previous year, was apparently meant to prod the country’s new democratically elected government, headed by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, and its still-powerful military to further curb the use of child soldiers and forced labor.

The U.S. has regularly expressed concern about the persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar, which is predominantly Buddhist.

Christianity is growing in Myanmar due in part to church-planting efforts by organizations like Christian Aid Mission.

Pray for the elimination of human trafficking in Myanmar and the starting of new congregations.

CNN: U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report: How does your country fare?
 
Reuters: U.S. downgrades Myanmar, raises Thailand in human trafficking report
 
US News and World Report: Myanmar decries demotion on US human trafficking blacklist
 
Christian Aid: Going Where Christ is Unknown in Burma

Pray for Myanmar: GFA Encourages People to Pray for Myanmar