The U.S. State Department released its annual report on what the government calls Modern Day Slavery.

This year 14 countries - including Myanmar , Cuba, Iran, Syria and North Korea - bottom out the list and face possible sanctions such as withholding non-humanitarian foreign aid.

The report looks at how governments fight human trafficking.

Today, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged the significant progress that's been made, but pointed out there's still a lot of work to be done.

"We closely examined prosecution data and made a disturbing discovery. Although more countries are addressing human trafficking through prosecution and conviction the petty tyrants who exploit their laborers rarely receive serious punishment," Rice said.

The U.S. government estimates around 800,000 people are bought, sold, or transported for forced labor or sex each year, mostly female and minors.