[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

Cabo Verde (Tier 2) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report - cabo-verde

The Government of Cabo Verde 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 Cabo Verde remained on Tier 2. These efforts included increasing trafficking investigations and identifying more victims. The government began implementing SOPs for victim identification and referral to services. The Observatory for Monitoring and Rapid Identification of Situations of Trafficking in Persons (the Observatory) drafted a new NAP, pending final adoption, and convened regularly. However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas. Government agencies charged with combating trafficking continued to lack sufficient resources and training, and overall victim identification and protection efforts remained inadequate. Some observers alleged official corruption, complicity, and interference in a specific trafficking case. Officials conflated trafficking with other crimes and some prosecutors and judges continued to rely on more familiar legislation rather than using the anti-trafficking penal code provisions to prosecute and convict traffickers.

Prioritized Recommendations

Fully implement and train law enforcement, labor inspectors, child protection actors, and other officials on the trafficking in persons manual SOPs to proactively identify trafficking victims, including among vulnerable populations such as children referred to Institute for Children and Adolescents (ICCA) and women referred to Institute for Gender Equality and Equity (ICIEG) shelters; child laborers and children experiencing homelessness; individuals in commercial sex; and migrant and overseas workers (including People’s Republic of China [PRC], Cuban, and ECOWAS nationals); refer trafficking victims to care.

Increase efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms; ensure all trafficking cases are prosecuted through the judicial system, without political interference, rather than resolved through non-judicial means.

Train law enforcement and judicial officials on investigating and prosecuting cases using the anti-trafficking provision of the penal code, Article 271-A, and specialized investigative and prosecutorial techniques; consider designating specially trained law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and magistrates in charge of investigating and prosecuting trafficking cases.

Provide training to investigators and prosecutors on trafficking investigations and prosecutions, including evidence collection and victim-centered interview techniques.

Increase nationwide trafficking data collection on law enforcement and victim identification efforts and develop a system to compile and share data among agencies.

Continue strengthening the Observatory’s capacity to coordinate the government’s anti-trafficking response.

Finalize a new anti-trafficking NAP and allocate resources to its implementation.

Increase efforts to raise public awareness of human trafficking.