[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

ALGERIA (Tier 3) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report - Algeria

The Government of Algeria does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, even considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Algeria was downgraded to Tier 3. Despite the lack of significant efforts, the government took some steps to address trafficking, including adopting a NAP, creating specialized trafficking units in the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN), and approving standardized victim identification indicators drafted with an international organization, although the indicators had not yet been promulgated into victim identification procedures. Although not fully approved, the lower house of Parliament approved the draft anti-trafficking law and referred it to the upper house where it remained pending at the end of the reporting period. The government also continued to work with an international organization to develop a NRM and train officials. However, the government conducted fewer investigations and prosecutions, and its efforts to identify and assist trafficking victims remained insufficient. Due to the government’s ineffective screening measures for victims among vulnerable populations, such as sub-Saharan African migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers, and individuals in commercial sex, authorities likely continued to inappropriately penalize trafficking victims solely for immigration offenses committed as a direct result of being trafficked. The government’s ongoing measures to deport undocumented migrants without effective screening for trafficking indicators deterred some victims among this population from reporting trafficking crimes to the police or seeking much-needed assistance.

Prioritized Recommendations

Finalize and implement SOPs for victim identification and screening for use by border, security, and law enforcement officials who encounter vulnerable populations, such as undocumented foreign migrants, asylum-seekers, refugees, and individuals in commercial sex.

Increase investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of sex and labor traffickers.

Amend the trafficking provision of the penal code to remove the requirement of a demonstration of force, fraud, or coercion for child sex trafficking offenses.

Finalize and implement a formal national victim referral mechanism to refer victims to appropriate care.

Train law enforcement, judiciary, labor inspectorate, health care officials, and social workers on victim identification and referral procedures.

Create a mechanism to identify trafficking victims among vulnerable populations and ensure victims are not inappropriately penalized solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked.

Ensure victims of all forms of trafficking are referred to and receive protection services, including appropriate shelter, adequate medical and psycho-social care, and legal assistance.

Provide a legal and regulatory environment that allows NGOs to provide services to trafficking victims and populations vulnerable to human trafficking.

Ensure the safe, dignified, and voluntary repatriation of foreign victims, including through collaboration with relevant organizations and source country embassies, and provide foreign victims with legal alternatives to their removal to countries where they may face retribution or hardship.

Improve efforts to regulate foreign labor recruitment to Algeria, including through requiring written labor contracts in languages the workers understand and banning all worker-paid recruitment fees.

Continue efforts to raise public awareness on the indicators and risks of trafficking.

Screen for forced labor indicators among Cuban medical professionals and People’s Republic of China (PRC) nationals employed at worksites affiliated with the PRC’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and refer them to appropriate services.

Screen any North Korean workers for signs of trafficking and refer them to appropriate services in a manner consistent with obligations under UN Security Council resolution 2397.