[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (Tier 2 Watch List) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of the Republic of the Congo does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.  These efforts included training law enforcement officials on the anti-trafficking law and issuing six ministerial decrees to increase protection of Indigenous populations and reduce vulnerabilities to trafficking.  However, the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, even considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity.  The government did not investigate, prosecute, or convict any traffickers.  It did not proactively screen for trafficking victims among vulnerable populations and did not report identifying any victims for the third consecutive year.  The government did not take any proactive measures to address alleged official complicity in trafficking crimes.  The government continued to lack a formalized national anti-trafficking task force, hindering overall efforts.  Therefore the Republic of the Congo was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List.

Prioritized Recommendations

Increase efforts to investigate and prosecute alleged traffickers, including officials allegedly complicit in trafficking, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms.

Train officials on implementing regulations to proactively identify trafficking victims, including by screening for trafficking indicators, especially among vulnerable populations, including child laborers, women and girls exploited in sex trafficking, unaccompanied children, Indigenous populations, refugees, and migrants.

Formally establish the inter-ministerial anti-trafficking task force and designate an agency to lead the government’s anti-trafficking efforts.

Finalize, approve, and fully implement the 2022-2023 NAP.

Take steps to eliminate recruitment or placement fees charged to workers by foreign labor recruiters and ensure any recruitment fees are paid by employers.

While respecting due process, expedite hearings and consider prosecuting trafficking cases in the low court while maintaining stringent sentencing according to the country’s anti-trafficking law.

Increase anti-trafficking training for law enforcement officials, labor inspectors, immigration officials, and social workers, including the difference between human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

Increase law enforcement and first responders’ capacity to collect data on trafficking cases.

Further expand anti-trafficking efforts to identify victims and prosecute traffickers beyond Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville.

Ensure victims are not inappropriately penalized solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked.

Implement and consistently enforce strong regulations and oversight of labor recruitment companies, including training labor inspectors to identify and report trafficking crimes and holding fraudulent labor recruiters criminally accountable.

Accede to the 2000 UN TIP Protocol.