[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

EQUATORIAL GUINEA (Tier 3) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of Equatorial Guinea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and, even considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity, and is not making significant efforts to do so; therefore Equatorial Guinea was downgraded to Tier 3. Despite the lack of significant efforts, the government took some steps to address trafficking, including training law enforcement officials on trafficking. However, the government did not prosecute any traffickers and has never convicted a trafficker under its 2004 anti-trafficking law. The government did not identify any trafficking victims for the second consecutive year and did not make any efforts to proactively identify victims among vulnerable populations. The government’s anti-trafficking law did not criminalize all forms of trafficking. Allegations that senior government officials were complicit in trafficking crimes continued to hinder the government’s overall efforts to combat human trafficking. Authorities did not screen vulnerable populations for trafficking.

Prioritized Recommendations

Prioritize the proactive identification of victims of trafficking – separate from fraudulent adoptions or other forms of abuse – including by screening vulnerable communities such as child laborers in markets; women in commercial sex; domestic and construction workers; undocumented immigrants; and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) national workers; and Cuban overseas workers, including medical professionals.

Significantly increase efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes and convict traffickers, including complicit officials.

Increase funding for victim services and coordinate with civil society as well as NGOs to provide shelter for all identified trafficking victims.

Amend the penal code to remove the requirement of a demonstration of force, fraud, or coercion in child sex trafficking cases.

Implement the 2022-2024 anti-trafficking National Action Plan (NAP) to enhance governmental coordination on anti-trafficking efforts and allocate dedicated resources to its implementation.

Continue to expand training for law enforcement and judicial officials to increase their capacity to investigate, prosecute, and – following a fair and transparent trial – convict traffickers.

Continue to train social workers, law enforcement, labor inspectors, and immigration officials on trafficking indicators.

Continue to include local officials in the nation-wide anti-trafficking public awareness campaigns to educate more individuals on trafficking indicators.

Re-establish the government’s web-based reporting platform and hotline for the public to report potential trafficking cases.

Screen all individuals in immigration detention or custody for indicators of human trafficking.

Provide legal pathways for undocumented migrants to obtain a residency permit.

Allow registration of anti-trafficking NGOs and enable their full and independent operation.

Regularly cooperate and communicate with law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, and community advisors on victim identification and referral procedures among vulnerable populations to ensure better coordination with the anti-trafficking Interagency Coordinating Committee (TICC), NGOs and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).