[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

ARGENTINA (Tier 1) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report - Argentina

The Government of Argentina fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The government continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Argentina remained on Tier 1. These efforts included convicting more traffickers, issuing the first restitution payment through the trafficking victims’ trust fund, adopting a new NAP, and funding a plan to build four new shelters. The government granted a home to an adult survivor of forced child labor through a housing subsidy project targeting trafficking survivors and continued its program to promote trafficking survivors’ reentry into the labor market. The government continued to train officials and establish partnerships with unions to promote the identification of labor trafficking victims. Although the government meets the minimum standards, it investigated and prosecuted fewer traffickers, and identified fewer victims. It relied on ministries to support the NAP and other initiatives through their own budgets rather than allocating dedicated resources for anti-trafficking efforts. Official complicity in trafficking crimes remained a concern.

Prioritized Recommendations

Strengthen efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict traffickers, especially complicit officials and labor traffickers.

Improve victim assistance to include more specialized shelters, additional shelter options for male victims, and trauma-informed support for victims participating in trials against traffickers.

Seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms.

Consistently implement victim restitution procedures and facilitate asset transfers to support the restitution trust fund.

Provide dedicated funding to fully implement the NAP.

Strengthen coordination among the federal and provincial governments and NGOs.

Increase availability of mid- to long-term assistance for victims, including legal, medical, and employment services.

Amend the human trafficking law to make force, fraud, or coercion essential elements of the crime, rather than aggravating factors, consistent with the UN TIP Protocol.

Improve efforts to collect and integrate data on law enforcement statistics and victim assistance.

Address trafficking victims’ specific needs in the existing witness protection program and prevent abuse by agents.

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