[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

Aruba (Tier 2) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report - Aruba

The Government of Aruba does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Aruba was upgraded to Tier 2. These efforts included identifying and providing support services to more trafficking victims; increasing screening of vulnerable populations, which led to nine potential victim referrals; and establishing a permanent contract for the Coordination Center on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling (CMMA) project manager, increasing the role’s stability. The government launched several awareness-raising campaigns, including a new academic curriculum for secondary students; it also increased staffing for the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Unit (UMM). The government- funded and completed the renovation of an existing structure to create sleeping, living, and staff spaces at the site of its planned mixed-use shelter, but the shelter did not open in 2022. However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas. The government did not prosecute or convict any traffickers for the fourth consecutive year and lacked an effective protocol for victim referral and service provision. Key anti-trafficking institutions did not coordinate fully, hindering the prosecution of trafficking crimes.

Prioritized Recommendations

Vigorously investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms.

Proactively identify victims among all vulnerable groups, including women in commercial sex, detained migrants, domestic workers, and migrants working in construction, supermarkets, and retail.

Train law enforcement officials, prosecutors, judges, coast guard officers, and labor inspectors on victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches to trafficking cases.

Formalize and fund CMMA as a permanent institution.

Decouple victim identification and assistance procedures from the investigation and prosecution of trafficking crimes and empower non-law enforcement officials to designate trafficking victims as such.

Operationalize the multipurpose shelter for victims of crimes, including human trafficking.

Establish comprehensive guidelines for victim identification, referral, and service provision.

Improve coordination and information-sharing between law enforcement and prosecutors, and with anti-trafficking counterparts across the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Promote awareness of human trafficking, as distinct from migrant smuggling, through trafficking-specific materials and campaigns.