[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

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

The Government of Barbados 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 on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Barbados remained on Tier 2.  These efforts included increasing investigations, continuing prosecution of five traffickers, and cooperating with other governments and an international organization on law enforcement and victim screening.  The government also finalized and began to implement victim screening SOPs in cooperation with an international organization, created a new tool to combat financial crimes related to trafficking and other crimes, and collaborated with foreign governments to prevent trafficking of overseas Barbadian workers.  However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas.  The government did not initiate any new prosecutions and has never secured a trafficking conviction under the anti-trafficking law.  The government did not identify any trafficking victims.  The anti-trafficking law did not provide penalties that were commensurate with other serious crimes.

Prioritized Recommendations

Proactively screen vulnerable groups including children; migrants, including non-Barbadians who engage in commercial sex; People’s Republic of China (PRC) nationals on PRC government-funded projects; and Cuban medical workers for trafficking indicators beyond points of entry and identify victims among these populations. 

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

Reduce court backlog for trafficking cases. 

Amend the anti-trafficking law to remove sentencing provisions that allow fines in lieu of imprisonment for sex trafficking crimes. 

Fully investigate cases of missing non-Barbadians working in commercial sex who may be trafficking victims. 

Develop and implement written SOPs for victim identification and referral, regularly train frontline workers on their use, and improve coordination with NGOs for victim referral. 

Provide regular training for law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and judges on trafficking indicators, victim identification and referral, evidence-gathering, and implementing the anti-trafficking law. 

Fully implement the NAP. 

Provide trafficking victims, including potential victims, with adequate accommodations and access to trauma-informed service providers. 

Update and modernize labor laws on recruitment and public procurement to prevent trafficking and protect victims. 

Continue to raise awareness of human trafficking among officials and the public.